Autotaxin: motility stimulating protein useful in cancer diagnosis and therapy

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates, in general, to autotaxin. In particular, the present invention relates to a DNA segment encoding autotaxin; recombinant DNA molecules containing the DNA segment; cells containing the recombinant DNA molecule; a method of producing autotaxin; antibodies to autotaxin; and identification of functional domains in autotaxin.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/249,182 filed May 25, 1994, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/822,043 filed on Jan. 17, 1992.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates, in general, to a motility stimulating and compositions comprising the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a purified form of the protein and peptides thereof, for example, autotaxin (herein alternative referred to as “ATX”); a DNA segment encoding autotaxin; recombinant DNA molecules containing the DNA segment; cells containing the recombinant DNA molecule; a method of producing autotaxin; antibodies to autotaxin; and methods of cancer diagnosis and therapy using the above referenced protein or peptides thereof and DNA segments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Cell motility plays an important role in embryonic events, adult tissue remodeling, wound healing, angiogenesis, immune defense, and metastasis of tumor cells (Singer, 1986). In normal physiologic processes, motility is tightly regulated. On the other hand, tumor cell motility may be aberrantly regulated or autoregulated. Tumor cells can respond in a motile fashion to a variety of agents. These include host-derived factors such as scatter factor (Rosen, et al., 1989) and growth factors (Kahan, et al., 1987; Stracke, et al.; Tamm, et al., 1989; Wang, et al. 1990; and Jouanneau, et al. 1991), components of the extracellular matrix (McCarthy, et al. 1984), and tumor-secreted or autocrine factors (Liotta, et al. 1988; Ruff, et al. 1985; Atnip, et al. 1987; Ohnishi, et al. 1990; Silletti, et al. 1991; and Watanabe, et al. 1991).

[0004] Many types of host-derived soluble factors act in a paracrine fashion to stimulate cell locomotion. Motility-stimulating proteins called “scatter factors” have been identified which are produced by embryonic fibroblasts and by smooth muscle cells (Stoker, et al. 1987). Scatter factors stimulate random and directed motility by epithelial cells, keratinocytes, vascular endothelial cells and carcinoma cells (Stoker, et al. 1987; Rosen, et al. 1990; and Weidner, et al. 1990), but not fibroblasts. In addition, a number of host-secreted growth factors have been demonstrated to stimulate motility in tumor cells, including nerve growth factor (Kahan, et al. 1987) insulin-like growth factor-I (Stracke, et al. 1988), interleukin-6 (Tamm, et al. 1989), interleukin-8 (Wang, et al. 1990), and acidic fibroblast growth factor (Jouanneau, et al. 1991). These paracrine factors may influence “homing” or the directionality of tumor cell motility.

[0005] In contrast to these host-derived factors, many types of tumor cells have been found to produce proteins termed “autocrine motility factors” which stimulate motility by the same tumor cells which make the factor (Liotta, et al. 1986). Autocrine motility factors are not specific for a given type of cancer cell but have a wide spectrum of activity on many types of cancer cells (Kohn, et al. 1990), with little effect on normal fibroblasts or leukocytes.

[0006] Autocrine motility factors identified to date act through cell-surface receptors (Stracke, et al. 1987; Nabi, et al. 1990; Watanabe, et al. 1991) resulting in pseudopodial protrusion (Guirguis, et al. 1987) leading to both random and directed migration (Liotta, et al. 1986; Atnip, et al. 1987; Ohnishi, et al. 1990).

[0007] Prior studies of human A2058 melanoma cells have demonstrated that these cells are a particularly rich source of autocrine motility factors. An autocrine motility factor with a molecular mass of approximately 60 kDa has been previously isolated from the conditioned media of these cells. (Liotta, et al. 1986). Similar tumor cells derived or induced factors with the same molecular weight have subsequently been reported and purified by several investigators (Atnip, et al. 1987; Schnor, et al. 1988; Ohnishi, et al. 1990; Silletti, et al. 1991; Watanabe et al. 1990). Such factors are thought to play a key role in tumor cell invasion.

[0008] Most of the motility factors identified to date have not been purified to homogeneity and have not been sequenced. The novel tumor motility factor of the present invention, named herein as autotaxin (“ATX”), has been purified and verified to be a homogeneous sample by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The protein of the present invention is unique from any previously identified or purified motility factor. The molecular size of ATX is about 125 kilo Daltons (“kDa”) and it has an isoelectric point of approximately 7.7. ATX stimulates both random and directed migration of human A2058 melanoma cells at picomolar concentrations. The activity of the ATX factor is completely sensitive to inhibition by pertussis toxin. No significant homology has been found to exist between the protein of the invention and any mammalian protein including previous factors known to stimulate cell motility.

[0009] There is a great clinical need to predict the aggressiveness of a patient's individual tumor, to predict the local recurrence of treated tumors and to identify patients at high risk for development of invasive tumors. The present invention provides a functional marker which is functionally related to the invasive potential of human cancer. The invention further provides an assay for this secreted marker in body fluids, or in tissues. The assay of the invention can be used in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of human malignancies and other inflammatory, fibrotic, infectious or healing disorders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention relates, generally, to a motility stimulating protein and corresponding peptides thereof, and to a DNA segment encoding same. A human cDNA clone encoding a tumor cell motility-stimulating protein, herein referred to as autotaxin or “ATX”, reveals that this protein is an ecto/exoenzyme with significant homology to the plasma cell membrane differentiation antigen PC-1. ATX is a 125 kDa glycoprotein, previously isolated from a human melanoma cell line (A2058), which elicits chemotactic and chemokinetic responses at picomolar to nanomolar concentrations.

[0011] It is a specific object of the present invention to provide autotaxin and peptide fragments thereof.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a DNA segment that encodes autotaxin and a recombinant DNA molecule comprising same. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cell that contains such a recombinant molecule and a method of producing autotaxin using that cell.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is the identification of a transmembrane domain of the human liver autotaxin protein and its apparent absence in tumorous forms of autotaxin. The tumorous form of autotaxin appears to be a secreted protein. The present invention relates to utilization of the different sites of localization for diagnosis and prognosis of the stages of tumor progression. Further, the invention relates to treatment methods, designed to advantageously block the secreted form of autotaxin activity while having little effect on the membrane-bound form of autotaxin.

[0014] Yet another object of the present invention relates to the identification of a highly variable region within the autotaxin gene, called a “hot spot”. The variations in sequence apparently result in mutations, insertions, deletions and premature termination of translation. The present invention relates to manipulating this region so as to alter the activity of the protein. Further, the hot spot can serve as a marker in tumor diagnosis differentiating between different forms of the autotaxin protein.

[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of purifying autotaxin.

[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide cloned DNA segments encoding autotaxin and fragments thereof. The cDNA encoding the entire autotaxin protein contains 3251 base pairs, and has an mRNA size of approximately 3.3 kb. The full-length deduced amino acid sequence of autotaxin comprises a protein of 915 amino acids. Database analysis of the ATX sequence revealed a 45% amino acid identity (including 30 out of 33 cysteines) with PC-1, a pyrophosphatase/type I phosphodiesterase expressed on the surface of activated B cells and plasma cells. ATX, like PC-1, was found to hydrolyze the type I phosphodiesterase substrate p-nitrophenyl thymidine-5′ monophosphate. Autotaxin now defines a novel motility-regulating function for this class of ecto/exo-enzymes.

[0017] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1. Fractionation of ATX by hydrophobic interaction. A 200 ml sample of A2058 conditioned media was chromatographed on a 200 mL column of phenyl Sepharose-4B. Buffer A was 50 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 5% methanol, and 1.2 M ammonium sulfate. Buffer B was 50 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 5% methanol and 50% ethylene glycol. The gradient (---) represents a double linear gradient with decreasing ammonium sulfate (1.2 to 0.0 M) and increasing ethylene glycol (0 to 50%). Absorbance was monitored at 280 nm (______) and indicated that most of the protein did not bind to the column. Ten ml fractions were assayed for motility stimulating capacity using the Boyden Chamber assay (o). The peak of motility activity occurred between 900 and 1050 minutes, ˜12% of the gradient.

[0019]FIG. 2. Isolation of ATX by lectin affinity chromatography. 20 ml portions of the phenyl Sepharose activity peak were affinity purified on a 40 ml Concanavalin A Affi-Gel column. The bound components were eluted with a step gradient (---) of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside (0.0 mM, 10 mM, and 500 mM) in a buffer consisting of 0.05 M Tris (pH 7.5), 0.1 M NaCl, 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 20% ethylene glycol. Absorbance was monitored at 280 nm (______) and indicated that the majority of the protein components did not bind to the column. Motility was assayed in 10 mL fractions ( . . . o . . . ) and was found predominantly in the 500 mM elution concentration. One of seven chromatographic runs is shown.

[0020]FIG. 3. Purification of ATX by weak anionic exchange chromatography. Approximately 30% of the activity peak eluted from the Con A affinity column was applied to a ZORBAX BioSeries-WAX column. The bound components were eluted with an NaCl gradient (---) in a buffer consisting of 10 mM Tris (pH 7.5) and 30% ethylene glycol. Motility (o) was assayed in 1.0 ml fractions. The peak of activity eluted in a discrete but broad region in the shallow portion of the gradient. Absorbance was monitored at 230 nm (______). The majority of the protein components not associated with activity bound strongly to the column were eluted at 1.0 M NaCl. One of two chromatographic runs is shown.

[0021]FIG. 4. Purification of ATX by molecular sieve exclusion chromatography. The entire activity peak eluted from the weak anion exchange column was applied to a series of TSK columns (4000SW, 4000SW, 3000SW, and 2000SW, in this order). Proteins were eluted in a buffer consisting of 0.1M NaPO₄ (pH 7.2) with 10% methanol and 10% ethylene glycol. Two major protein peaks were evident by monitoring the absorbance at 235 nm (______). Motility ( . . . o . . . ) was assayed in 0.4 ml samples and found predominantly in the first, smaller, protein peak.

[0022]FIG. 5. Final purification of ATX by strong anionic exchange chromatography. Approximately 15% of the activity peak from the molecular sieve exclusion series was applied to a Pro-Pac PA1 column. Protein which bound to the column was eluted with a NaCl gradient (---) in a buffer consisting of 10 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 5% methanol and 20% ethylene glycol. Absorbance was monitored at 215 nM (______). Motility activity was assayed in 1.0 ml fractions at two different dilutions: ⅕ ( . . . o . . . ) or {fraction (1/15)} (. _ . o . _ . ). Activity was found to correspond to a double protein peak in the central region of the gradient.

[0023]FIG. 6A, 6B and 6C. Protein components associated with the activity peaks from various stages of purification. The activity peak from each chromatographic fractionation was pooled, concentrated and analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weight standards are in Lane 1 for each panel. Panel 6A) 8-16% gradient gel of the first three purification steps, run under non-reducing conditions. Lane 2 is an aliquot of the pooled activity peak eluted from the phenyl sepharose fractionation. Lane 3 is an aliquot of the pooled activity peak eluted from the Con A affinity purification. Lanes 4 and 5 show the “peak” and “shoulder” of activity fractionated by weak anion exchange chromatography (FIG. 3). Panel 6B) 7% gel of the activity peak fractionated by molecular sieve exclusion chromatography. Lanes 2 and 3 show the protein separation pattern of the total pooled activity peak when the gel was run under non-reducing and reducing conditions, respectively. Panel 6C) 8-16% gradient gel of the final strong anionic exchange chromatographic separation, run under non-reducing conditions. Lane 2 comprises -1% of the total pooled activity peak eluted from the column.

[0024]FIG. 7. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of ATX. Purified ATX (FIG. 6, Panel C) was subjected to non-equilibrium isoelectric focusing (5 hr. at 500 v), then applied to a 7.5% SDS-polyacrylamide gel for the second dimension. The pH separation which resulted was measured in 0.5 cm samples of concurrently run tube gels and is shown at the top. Molecular weight standards for the second dimension are shown on the right. This analysis reveals a single component with pI=7.7±0.2 and M_(r)=120,000.

[0025]FIG. 8. Dilution curve of ATX. Purified ATX (FIG. 6, Panel C) was serially diluted and tested for motility-stimulating activity. The result, with unstimulated background motility subtracted out, shows that activity is half-maximal at ˜500 pM ATX.

[0026]FIG. 9. Pertussis toxin (PT) sensitivity of ATX. A2058 cells were pre-treated for 1 hr. prior to the start of the motility assay with 0.5 μg/ml PT in 0.1% BSA-DMEM or with 0.1% BSA-DMEM alone (for untreated control). The motility activity stimulated by purified ATX (FIG. 6, Panel C) was then assessed for the two treatment groups. The result, expressed as cells/HPF±S.E.M. with unstimulated background motility subtracted out, reveals profound inhibition of PT-treated cells (hatched) compared to untreated cells (solid). PT had no effect on cell viability. S.E.M.'s were <10%.

[0027]FIG. 10. Checkerboard analysis of ATX-stimulated motility. Varying dilutions of autotaxin were added to the upper chamber with the cells and/or to the lower chamber, as shown. Motility response, expressed as cells/HPF±S.E.M., was assessed for each point in the checkerboard.

[0028]FIG. 11. Purification of ATX peptides on HPLC. ATX, purified to homogeneity by strong anionic exchange chromatography, was sequentially digested by cyanogen bromide, subjected to reduction and pyridylethylation, and digested by trypsin. The resulting peptides were purified on an Aquapore RP300 C-8 reverse phase column using a (0-70)% acetonitrile gradient in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (---). The absorbance was monitored at 215 nm (______) and peaks were collected. Seven peaks, chosen at random for N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, are shown with appropriate numbers.

[0029]FIG. 12. Cloning Strategy, schematically depicted.

[0030]FIG. 13. Schematic Diagram of autotaxin gene region.

[0031] For A2058: 4C11 is the original DNA clone obtained by screening an A2058 cDNA expression library in λgt11 with anti-peptide ATX-102. Upstream ATX peptide sequences were utilized for PCR amplification of A2058 mRNA, using the technique of reverse transcription/PRC. These peptides include ATX-101, ATX-103, and ATX-224. The approximate localization of each of peptide was obtained by matching the peptide with its homologous region on PC-1.

[0032] For N-tera 2D1, a λgt10 cDNA library was amplified and the cDNA inserts were isolated. PCR amplification, based on homologies with A2058 sequence, was utilized for DNA sequencing.

[0033] For normal human liver, a mRNA from liver was amplified with 5′RACE using primers from the known ATX-224 region of A2058 and N-tera 2D1.

[0034]FIG. 14. Schematic match-up of ATX peptides with putative A2058 protein sequence.

[0035]FIG. 15. Schematic match-up of ATX peptides with putative N-tera 2D1 protein sequence.

[0036]FIG. 16: ATX Treatment with PGNase F. Partially purified ATX was treated with 60 mU/ml PNGase F at 37° C. for 16 hr under increasingly denaturing conditions. The treated ATX samples were separated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis run under reducing conditions and stained with Coomassie blue G-250. Lane 1 contains untreated ATX (arrow) with no enzyme added. Lane 2 contains the reaction mixture run under non-denaturing conditions (50 mM tris/10% ethylene glycol, pH 7). Lanes 3 and 4 have added 0.1 M β-mercaptoethanol and 0.5% Nonidet-P40, respectively. Lanes 5 and 6 contain the reaction mixtures in which the ATX sample was first boiled for 3 min in 0.1% SDS with (lane 6) or without (lane 5) 0.1 M β-mercaptoethanol, then had 0.5% Nonidet-P40 added to prevent enzyme denaturation. The enzyme can be detected as an ˜44 kDa band in lanes 2-6.

[0037]FIG. 17: Effect of varying concentrations of PNGase F on ATX molecular weight and motility-stimulating activity. Partially purified ATX was treated with various concentrations (range 0-60 mU/ml, shown on horizontal axis) of PNGase F at 37° C. for 16 hr. FIG. 17A shows the effect of the different treatments on ATX molecular weight. At concentrations of enzyme ≧30 mU/ml, the deglycosylation reaction appears to be complete. FIG. 17B shows the effect of the identical reaction mixtures on motility-stimulating capacity (immediately below the corresponding protein band of FIG. 17A). There is no significant difference between any of the treatment groups.

[0038]FIG. 18: Comparison of amino acid sequences of ATX and PC-1. The amino acid sequences of ATX and PC-1 are compared. Amino acid identity is indicated by a vertical line between the sequences. The location of the putative transmembrane/signal sequence is shown by a solid line. The two somatomedin B domains are identified by dashed lines. The putative phosphodiesterase active site is indicated by emboldened lines. The loop region of a single EF hand loop region is identified with double lines. The presumed cleavage site for each protein is indicated with arrows.

[0039]FIG. 19: Domain structure of ATX and PC-1. Putative domains are indicated for the two homologous proteins, ATX and PC-1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] Tumor cell motility is a critical component of invasion and metatasis, but the regulation of this motility is still poorly understood. At least some tumor cells secrete autocrine motility factors (AMF's) that stimulate motility in the producing cells. Like the analogous autocrine growth factors, these AMF's allow tumor cells independence from the host in this important component of the metastatic cascade. One AMF, autotaxin (ATX), has recently been purified to homogeneity from the human melanoma cell line, A2058 (Stracke, et al., 1992). The purified protein was enzymatically digested and the peptide fragments were separated by reverse phase HPLC. A number of these peptides have been sequenced by standard Edman degradation (Table 6) from different purifications and different enzymatic digestion. Sequence information, obtained initially on 19 purified tryptic peptides, confirmed that the protein is unique with no significant homology to growth factors or previously described motility factors. These peptide sequences have now been used as the basis for identifying and sequencing the cDNA clone for ATX. The present invention comprises an amino acid sequence of ATX as well as a nucleic acid sequence coding for the ATX protein. TABLE 6 PEPTIDE SEQUENCES FOR AUTOTAXIN. PEPTIDE AMINO ACID SEQ ID: NO. SEQUENCE NO: ATX-18 WHVAR SEQ ID NO: 1 ATX-19 PLDVYK SEQ ID NO: 2 ATX-20 YPAFK SEQ ID NO: 3 ATX-29 PEEVTRPNYL SEQ ID NO: 5 ATX-34B RVWNYFQR SEQ ID NO: 38 ATX-41 HLLYGRPAVLY SEQ ID NO: 29 ATX-48 VPPFENIELY SEQ ID NO: 7 ATX-59 TFPNLYTFATGLY SEQ ID NO: 32 ATX-100 GGQPLWITATK SEQ ID NO: 8 ATX-101/223A VNSMQTVFVGYGPTFK SEQ ID NO: 9 ATX-102 DIEHLTSLDFFR SEQ ID NO: 10 ATX-103 TEFLSNYLTNVDDITLVPETLGR SEQ ID NO: 11 ATX-104 VNVISGPIDDYDYDGLHDTEDK SEQ ID NO: 33 ATX-204 MHTARVRD SEQ ID NO: 39 ATX-205 FSNNAKYD SEQ ID NO: 40 ATX-209 VMPNIEK SEQ ID NO: 41 ATX-210 TARGWECT SEQ ID NO: 42 ATX-212 (N)DSPWT(N)ISGS SEQ ID NO: 43 ATX-214 LRSCGTHSPYM SEQ ID NO: 44 ATX-215/34A TYLHTYES SEQ ID NO: 45 ATX-213/217A AIIANLTCKKPDQ SEQ ID NO: 46 ATX-216 IVGQLMDG SEQ ID NO: 47 ATX-218/44 TSRSYPEIL SEQ ID NO: 48 ATX-223B/24 QAEVSSVPD SEQ ID NO: 49 ATX-224 RCFELQEAGPPDDC SEQ ID NO: 50 ATX-229 SYTSCCHDFDEL SEQ ID NO: 51 ATX-244/53 QMSYGFLFPPYLSSSP SEQ ID NO: 52

[0041] ATX is a glycosylated protein due to its high affinity for concanavalin A and amino acid sequence analysis of the ATX peptides. ATX has been demonstrated to be a 125 kDa glycoprotein whose molecular weight reduced to 100-105 kDa after deglycosylation with N-glycosidase F. The calculated molecular weight of the cloned protein is 100 kDa (secreted form) or 105 kDa (full length protein). Based on amino acid composition, the estimated pI is 9.0 which is higher than the pI determined by 2-D gel electrophoresis analysis (7.7-8.0) of purified ATX. This difference can be explained by the presence of sialic acid residues on the sugar moieties.

[0042] Autotaxin is secreted by A2058 human melanoma cells cultured in low abundance in serum-free conditioned medium. Autotaxin is a potent new cytokine with molecular mass 125 kDa which has been purified to homogeneity from the conditioned medium of the human melanoma cell line, A2058, utilizing sequential chromatographic methods as described herein. This new cytokine, termed autotaxin (ATX), is a basic glycoprotein with pI˜7.8. ATX is active in the high picomolar to low nanomolar range, stimulating both chemotactic and chemokinetic responses in the ATX-producing A2058 cells as well as other tumor cells. This motile response is abolished by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin. ATX may therefore act through a G protein-linked cell surface receptor. These characteristics distinguish ATX from several small growth factors and interleukins which are implicated in tumor cell motility (Stracke et al., 1988; Ruff et al., 1985; Maciag et al., 1984; Gospodarowicz, 1984; Van Snick, 1990; Yoshimura 1987).

[0043] The protein of the present invention, which in one embodiment is derived from A2058 human melanoma cells, can be prepared substantially free from proteins with which it is normally associated using, for example, the purification protocol disclosed herein. Alternatively, the protein of the present invention can be prepared substantially free from proteins, by cloning and expressing the cDNA encoding autotaxin as disclosed herein.

[0044] A large volume of serum-free conditioned medium from appropriate producer cells (e.g., tumor cells) is collected and concentrated approximately 500-fold. This concentrated conditioned medium is then separated from other contaminating proteins by techniques that rely on the chemical and physical characteristics of the protein. These include the molecular weight, relative hydrophobicity, net charge, isoelectric focusing point, and the presence of lectin-binding sugar residues on the protein.

[0045] Alternatively, the protein, or functional portion thereof, can be synthesized using chemical or recombinant means.

[0046] The protein of the present invention has a potent biological activity. Purified ATX is active in the picomolar range and 1 unit of activity corresponds to a concentration of approximately 500 pM as assessed by the cell motility assay described herein and elsewhere (Stracke et al., 1989).

[0047] The protein of the present invention has a molecular size, as determined by two dimensional gel electrophoresis, of from 120 to 130 kDa, or more specifically, about 125 kDa. Further, the protein of the present invention can have a pI in the range of 7.5 to 8.0, preferably, approximately 7.7. The present invention relates to autotaxin and peptides thereof having cell motility properties as described herein. These proteins and peptides thereof can be produced by isolation from a natural host or isolation as an expression product from a recombinant host.

[0048] The present invention also relates to a DNA segment coding for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to ATX, or a unique portion of such a sequence (unique portion being defined herein as at least 5, 10, 25, or 50 amino acids). In one embodiment, the DNA segment encodes any one of the amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NO: 26 to SEQ ID NO: 33. Another embodiment uses larger DNA fragments encoding amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36 and SEQ ID NO: 38. The entire coding region for autotaxin can also be used in the present invention shown in SEQ ID NO: 66 through SEQ ID NO: 69.

[0049] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector (for example plasmid or viral vector) and a DNA segment coding for a polypeptide corresponding to ATX, as can be prepared by one skilled in the art. Preferably, the coding segment is present in the vector operably linked to a promoter. The present invention also relates to a recombinant protein produced from a host cell expressing a cDNA containing a coding region of ATX. Examples of ATX cDNAs from a variety of sources have been cloned and can be used for expression, including inter alia A2058 carcinoma cells, N-tera 2D1 cells and human liver.

[0050] In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a cell containing the above-described recombinant DNA molecule. Suitable host cells include procaryotic cells (such as bacteria, including E. coli) and both lower eucaryotic cells (for example, yeast) and higher eucaryotic cells (for example, mammalian cells). Introduction of the recombinant molecule into the host cells can be effected using methods known in the art.

[0051] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of producing a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to ATX. The method comprises culturing the above-described cells under conditions such that the DNA segment is expressed, and isolating ATX thereby produced.

[0052] In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to an antibody having affinity for ATX or peptide fragments thereof. The invention also relates to binding fragments of such antibodies. In one preferred embodiment, the antibodies are specific for ATX peptides having an amino acid sequence set forth in one of SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NO: 26 through SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36 and SEQ ID NO: 38 through SEQ ID NO: 52. In addition, the antibodies may recognize an entire autotaxin protein.

[0053] Antibodies can be raised to autotaxin or its fragment peptides, either naturally-occurring or recombinantly produced, using methods known in the art.

[0054] The ATX protein and peptide fragments thereof described above can be joined to other materials, particularly polypeptides, as fused or covalently joined polypeptides to be used as carrier proteins. In particular, ATX fragments can be fused or covalently linked to a variety of carrier proteins, such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin, bovine serum albumin, tetanus toxoid, etc. See for example, Harper and Row, (1969); Landsteiner, (1962); and Williams et al., (1967), for descriptions of methods of preparing polyclonal antisera. A typical method involves hyperimmunization of an animal with an antigen. The blood of the animal is then collected shortly after the repeated immunizations and the gamma globulin is isolated.

[0055] In some instances, it is desirable to prepare monoclonal antibodies from various mammalian hosts. Description of techniques for preparing such monoclonal antibodies may be found in Stites et al., and references cited therein, and in particular in Kohler and Milstein (1975), which discusses one method of generating monoclonal antibodies.

[0056] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an oligonucleotide probe synthesized according to the sense or antisense degenerative sequence set forth in one of SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 26 through SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 39 through SEQ ID NO: 52, and SEQ ID NO: 55 through SEQ ID NO: 65.

[0057] Protein database searches of this sequence revealed a 45% amino acid identity with the plasma cell membrane marker protein, PC-1. ATX and PC-1 appear to share a number of domains, including two somatomedin B domains, the loop region of an EF hand, and the enzymatic site of type I phosphodiesterase/ nucleotide pyrophosphatase. Like PC-1, ATX hydrolyzes p-nitrophenyl thymidine-5′-monophosphate, a type 1 phosphodiesterase substrate. This enzymatic function of ATX suggests a newly identified function for ecto/exo-enzymes in cellular motility.

[0058] In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of diagnosing cancer metastasis and to a kit suitable for use in such a method. Preferably, antibodies to ATX can be used in, but not limited to, ELISA, RIA or immunoblots configurations to detect the presence of ATX in body fluids of patients (e.g. serum, urine, pleural effusions, etc.). These antibodies can also be used in immunostains of patient samples to detect the presence of ATX.

[0059] In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to in vivo and in vitro diagnostics. ATX may be radiolabelled, by means known to one skilled in the art, and injected in cancer patients with appropriate ancillary substances also known to one skilled in the art, in order to ultimately detect distant metastatic sites by appropriate imagery. The level of ATX in tissue or body fluids can be used to predict disease outcomes and/or choice of therapy which may also include ATX inhibitors.

[0060] In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a treatment of cancer. ATX antibodies can be cross-linked to toxins (e.g., Ricin A), by means known to one skilled in the art, wherein the cross-linked complex is administered to cancer patients with appropriate ancillary agents by means known to one skilled in the art, so that when the antibody complex binds to the cancer cell, the cell is killed by the cross-linked toxin.

[0061] In another embodiment, the different localizations of the normal versus tumorous forms of the ATX proteins within the tissue can be used as a tool for diagnosis and prognosis. The stage of disease progression can be monitored by elevated levels of ATX in the extracellular space as opposed to its normal cell membranes association. In addition, treatment methods for control of tumor progression can be designed to specifically block the activity of the secreted form of ATX. Such methods would have a preferential effect upon secreted ATX during tumor progression while not effecting normal ATX formation.

[0062] Yet another embodiment utilizes the hot spot located in the region from approximately nucleotides 1670 through 1815, as a marker gene for identification of tissues carrying a tumorous form of ATX.

[0063] The present invention is described in further detail in the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES

[0064] The following protocols and experimental details are referenced in the Examples that follow:

[0065] Materials. The polycarbonate Nuclepore membranes and the 48-well microchemotaxis chambers were obtained from Neuro Probe, Inc. Pertussis toxin (PT), ethylene glycol (biotechnology grade), methyl α-D-mannopyranoside were obtained from commercial vendors. The ampholyte, pH 3-10 Bio-Lyte and pH 8-10 Bio-Lyte, were obtained from Bio-Rad. Phenyl Sepharose CL-4B; affi-Gel concanavalin A; ZORBAX BioSeries-WAX (weak anion exchange) column (9.4 mm×24 cm); Spherogel-TSK 4000SW, 3000SW and 2000SW columns (each 7.5 mm×30 cm); the Pro-Pac PA1 (4×50 mm) strong anion exchange column; the Aquapore RP300 C-8 reverse phase column (220×2.1 mm); and the AminoQuant C-18 reverse phase column (200×2.1 mm) were also obtained from commercial sources.

[0066] Affi-Gel 10 affinity resin was from Bio-Rad. The GeneAmp PCR Reagent kit with AmpliTaq and the GeneAmp RNA PCR kit were purchased from Perkin-Elmer. The 5′ RACE kit came from Gibco BRL Life Technologies, Inc. The p-nitrophenyl thymidine-5′monophosphate was obtained from Calbiochem Biochemicals.

[0067] Ethylene glycol (biotechnology grade) was from Fisher Biochemicals (Pittsburg, Pa.). Peptide N-glycosidase F (“PNGase F”), O-glycosidase, neuraminidase (Arthrobacter ureafaciens), and swainsonine (“Swn”) came from Boehringer-Mannheim (Indianapolis, Ind.). 1-Deoxymannojirimycin (“dMAN”), and N-methyl-1-deoxynojirimycin (“NMdNM”) were from Oxford GlycoSystems, Inc. (Rosedale, N.Y.). Biotinylated concanavalin A, HRP-conjugated streptavidin, and HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin were purchased from Pierce Chemicals (Rockford, Ill.). Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-free polycarbonate membranes and the microchemotaxis chamber were from NeuroProbe, Inc. (Cabin John, Md.).

[0068] Cell Culture. The human melanoma cell line A2058, originally isolated by Todaro (Todaro et al., 1980), was maintained as previously described by Liotta (Liotta et al., 1986). The N-tera 2 (D1 clone) was a kind gift from Dr. Maxine Singer, Laboratory of Biochemistry, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and was maintained as described (Andrews, P. W., Goodfellow, P. N. and Bronson, D. L. (1983) Cell surface characteristics and other markers of differentiation of human teratocarcinoma cells in culture.).

[0069] Production of Autotaxin. A2058 cells were grown up in T-150 flasks, trypsinized, and seeded into 24,000 cm² cell factories at a cell density of 1×10¹⁰ cells/factory. After 5-6 days, the serum-containing medium was removed and the cells were washed with DPBS. The factories were maintained in DMEM without phenol red, supplemented with 4 mM glutamine, 100 units/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin, 5 μg/ml crystallized bovine serum albumin, 10 μg/ml bovine insulin, and 1 μM aprotinin. Culture supernatants were harvested every 3 days, frozen at −40° C. and replaced with fresh serum-free medium. Each cycle of supernatant was tested for ATX production with a cell motility assay detailed below. Typically, a cell factory continued to be productive for 9-11 of these cycles.

[0070] After accumulation of approximately 45-60 L of supernatant, the culture supernatants were thawed and concentrated down to 2-2.5 L using an Amicon S10Y30 spiral membrane ultrafiltration cartridge. This supernatant was further concentrated in an Amicon high performance ultrafiltration cell using Diaflo membranes. The final volume achieved from 100-200 L of conditioned medium was typically 250-400 ml. All ultrafiltrations were performed at 4° C.

[0071] Cell Motility Assays. Purification of autotaxin was monitored by testing the motility-stimulating capacity of the fractions collected from the columns. These fractions were in buffers unsuitable for a chemotaxis assay so each fraction had to be washed into an appropriate buffer, i.e., 0.1% (w/v) BSA in DPBS containing calcium and magnesium. This dialysis was performed by adding aliquots of each fraction to be tested into Centricon-30™ ultrafiltration tubes, which retain molecular species larger than 30,000 daltons.

[0072] The assay to determine motility was performed in triplicate using a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber as described elsewhere in detail (Stracke et al., 1987; Stracke, et al., 1989). The Nuclepore™ membranes used in these modified Boyden chambers were fixed and stained with Diff-Quik.™ Chemotaxis was quantitated either by reading the stained membranes with a 2202 Ultroscan laser densitometer or by counting 5 randomly chosen high power fields (HPF) under light microscopy (400×) for each replicate. Densitometer units (wavelength-633 nm) have been shown to be linearly related to the number of cells per HPF (Taraboletti, 1987; Stracke, et al., 1989). Typically, unstimulated motility (background) corresponded to 5-10 cells/HPF and highly responding cells to 70-100 cells/HPF above unstimulated background (i.e., 75-110 total cells/HPF).

[0073] For experiments using PT, the toxin was pre-incubated with the cells for 1-2 hr. at room temperature prior to the assay and maintained with the cells throughout the assay (Stracke, et al., 1987). The treated cells were tested for their motility response to the chemoattractant as well as for unstimulated random motility.

[0074] Purification of Autotaxin. Ammonium sulfate, to a final concentration of 1.2 M, was added to the concentrated A2058 conditioned medium for 1 hr. at 4° C. The solution was spun in a RC2-B Ultraspeed Sorvall centrifuge at 10,000×g for 15 min. Only the supernatant had the capacity to stimulate motility.

[0075] In the first step, the sample was fractionated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography using 200 ml phenyl Sepharose CL-4B column equilibrated into 50 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 5% (v/v) methanol and 1.2 M ammonium sulfate. The supernatant from the ammonium sulfate fractionation was added to this column and eluted using linear gradients of 50 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 5% (v/v) methanol, with decreasing (1.2-0.0) M ammonium sulfate and increasing (0-50) % (v/v) ethylene glycol at 1 ml/min.

[0076] The active peak was pooled, dialyzed into 50 mM Tris, 0.1 M NaCl, 0.01 M CaCl₂, 20% (v/v) ethylene glycol, and subjected to a second fractionation by lectin affinity chromatography using a 40 ml Affi-Gel concanavalin A column run at 1 ml/min. The sample was eluted in a stepwise fashion in the same buffer with 0, 10, and 500 mM methyl α-mannopyranoside added successively. Fractions from each step of the gradient were pooled and tested for their capacity to stimulate motility.

[0077] In the third purification step, the sample that eluted at 500 mM α-methyl-mannopyranoside was dialyzed into 10 mM Tris (pH 7.5) with 30% (v/v) ethylene glycol and fractionated by weak anion exchange chromatography. Chromatography was carried out on a ZORBAX BioSeries-WAX column using a Shimadzu BioLiquid chromatograph and eluted with a linear gradient of (0.0-0.4 M) sodium chloride at 3 ml/min.

[0078] The active peak was pooled, dialyzed against 0.1 M sodium phosphate (pH 7.2), 10% (v/v) methanol, and 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol, and subjected to a fourth fractionation step on a series of Spherigel TSK columns (4000SW, 4000SW, 3000SW, 2000SW, in that order). This molecular sieve step was run using the Shimadzu BioLiquid chromatograph at 0.4 ml/min.

[0079] The active peak was pooled and dialyzed into 10 mM Tris (pH 7.5), 5% (v/v) methanol, 20% (v/v) ethylene glycol and subjected to a fifth (strong anion exchange) chromatography step, a Pro-Pac PA1 column run at 1 ml/min using a Dionex BioLC with AI450 software. The sample was eluted with a linear gradient of (0.0-0.4M) NaCl.

[0080] In order to calculate activity yields after each step of purification, a unit of activity had to be derived. The dilution curve of ATX was biphasic with a broad peak and a linear range at sub-optimal concentrations. One unit of activity/well (i.e., 40 units/ml) was defined as 50% of the maximal activity in a full dilution curve. This allowed calculation of the activity contained in any volume from the dilution needed to achieve 1 unit/well. Therefore, if a 1:10 dilution were needed in order to produce 1 unit of activity/well, the material contained 10×40=400 units/ml.

[0081] Gel Electrophoresis. Protein samples were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using the conditions of Laemmli (Laemmli, 1970). In brief, 7 or 8% SDS-containing polyacrylamide gels were prepared or pre-poured (8-16%) gradient gels were obtained commercially. Samples were prepared with or without reducing conditions (5% β-mercaptoethanol). After electrophoretic separation, the gels were stained using Coomassie Blue G-250 as previously described (Neuhoff, et al., 1988). In this staining protocol, which ordinarily requires no destaining step, the Coomassie stain appears to be able to stain as little as 10 ng of protein.

[0082] For two-dimensional electrophoresis, the protein, in 20% ethylene glycol, was dried in a Speed-vac and redissolved in loading solution: 9M urea, 1% (v/v) pH 3-10 Bio-Lyte, and 2.5% (v/v) Nonidet-P40. This sample was then subjected to isoelectric focusing (O'Farrell, 1975) using a Bio-Rad tube cell in 120×3 mm polyacrylamide tube gels containing 9M urea, 2% (v/v) pH 3-10 Bio-Lyte, 0.25% (v/v) pH 8-10 Bio-Lyte and 2.5% (v/v) Nonidet-P40. Reservoir solutions were 0.01 M phosphoric acid and 0.02 M NaOH. Non-equilibrium isoelectric focusing (O'Farrell, et al., 1977) was run initially with constant voltage (500 v) for 5 hr. Since the protein was basic, the procedure was repeated under equilibrium conditions (500 v for 17 hr.). Electrophoresis in the second dimension was performed on a 7.5% polyacrylamide using the conditions of Laemmli (1970). The gel was stained with Coomassie Blue G-250 as above.

[0083] Preparation of Peptides for Internal Sequence of Autotaxin. Homogeneous ATX was sequentially digested with cyanogen bromide and, following reduction and pyridylethylation, with trypsin (Stone, et al., 1989). The resulting fragments were then separated by gradient elution on an Aquapore RP300 C-8 reverse phase column: 0.1% (v/v) trifluoroacetic acid and (0-70)% acetonitrile over 85 min. at a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min. A Dionex AI450 BioLC system was utilized and fractions were collected manually while monitoring the absorbance at 215 nm.

[0084] Sequence Analysis of Peptides. The amino acid sequences of peptides resulting from digestion and purification of ATX peptides #1-7 and 12-18, corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 26 through SEQ ID NO: 32, respectively, were determined on a Porton Instruments 2020 off-line sequenator using standard program #1. Phenylthiohydantoin amino acid analysis of sequenator runs were performed on a Beckman System Gold HPLC using a modified sodium acetate gradient program and a Hewlett-Packard C-18 column. ATX-100 (SEQ ID NO: 8), ATX-101 (SEQ ID NO: 9), ATX-102 (SEQ ID NO: 10), ATX-103 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and ATX 104 (SEQ ID NO: 33) were sequenced from gel-purified ATX.

[0085] Protein databases (Pearson, et al. 1988) that were searched for homologies in amino acid sequence with the ATX peptides include: GenBank (68.0), EMBL (27.0), SWISS-PROT (18.0), and GenPept (64.3).

Example 1 Purification of Autotaxin

[0086] The A2058 cells had been previously shown to produce protein factors which stimulate motility in an autocrine fashion (Liotta, et al., 1986). Conditioned medium from these cells was therefore used to identify and purify a new motility-stimulating factor, which is here named autotaxin and referred to as ATX. Since the purification was monitored with a biological assay, motility-stimulating activity had to be maintained throughout. The activity proved to be labile to freezing, acidic buffers, proteases (but not DNase or RNase), reduction, strong chaotrophic agents (e.g. >4 M urea), and a variety of organic solvents (isopropanol, ethanol, acetonitrile). An organic solvent, ethylene glycol, which did not decrease bioactivity, was added for both storage and chromatographic separation.

[0087] 100-200 L of serum-free conditioned medium were required in order to produce enough ATX for amino acid sequence analysis. The medium contained low concentrations of both BSA (5 μg/ml) which was needed as a carrier protein and insulin (10 μg/ml) which was required to support cell growth in low protein medium. Ultrafiltration to concentrate this large volume was performed with low protein-binding YM30 membranes which retain molecular species with M_(r)>30,000. As seen in Table 1, 200 L of conditioned medium prepared in this manner resulted in 10×10⁶ units of activity. However, the initial unfractionated conditioned medium contained additional substances known to stimulate activity, particularly insulin, which does not completely wash out in the ultrafiltration step and which is additive to the motility stimulating activity in a complex manner (Stracke, et al., 1989). This had to be taken into account in order to determine yields for subsequent steps in which insulin had been removed. TABLE 1 PURIFICATION OF AUTOTAXIN Specific Purification Step Protein Activity^(a) Activity Recovery (mg) (total units) (units/mg) (%)^(b) 200 L Conditioned Medium 33,000 10,000,000^(c ) 300 Phenyl Sepharose 1,235 460,000 370 100 Concanavalin A 58 660,000 11,400 100 Weak Anion Exchange 4.5 490,000 110,000 100 TSK Molecular Sieves ˜0.4^(d) 220,000 550,000 48 Strong Anion Exchange ˜0.04^(d)  24,000^(c) 600,000 5.2

[0088] The first step in the purification involved fractionation by hydrophobic interaction chromatography using a phenyl Sepharose CL-4B column. The results are shown in FIG. 1. Most proteins, including insulin, eluted from the column in early fractions or in the void. However, the peak of activity eluted relatively late. The activity which was purified was estimated as 460,000 units ±20% (Table 1). As the pooled peak of activity from the phenyl Sepharose fractionation is considered to be the first sample without significant insulin contamination, subsequent yields are measured against its total activity. Gel electrophoresis of a small portion of the pooled peak of activity (FIG. 6A, column 2) revealed a large number of protein bands with BSA predominant from the original conditioned medium.

[0089] In the second step of purification, the active peak was applied to the lectin affinity column, Affi-Gel concanavalin A. As shown in FIG. 2, most protein (estimated to be 90% of the total absorbance at 280 nm) failed to bind to the column at all. The non-binding fraction contained essentially no motility-stimulating activity (see dotted line in FIG. 2). When a linear gradient of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside was applied to the column, chemotactic activity eluted off in a prolonged zone, beginning at a concentration of approximately 20 mM sugar. Consequently, a step gradient was used to elute. Pure BSA failed to bind to con A.

[0090] Activity was found primarily in the 500 mM step of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside. There appeared to be no significant loss of activity as seen in Table 1; however, specific activity (activity/mg total protein) increased thirty-fold. Gel electrophoresis of the pooled and concentrated peak (FIG. 6A, column 3) revealed that the BSA overload was no longer apparent and the number of bands were much reduced. When the unbound protein was concentrated and applied to a gel, it appeared identical to the active peak from phenyl Sepharose-4B with a large BSA band.

[0091] The third purification step involved fractionating the previous active peak by weak anion exchange chromatography as shown in FIG. 3. Under the running conditions, activity eluted in a broad peak-shoulder or double peak in the middle of the shallow portion (0.0-0.4 M) of the NaCl gradient. The largest proportion of protein, lacking in motility-stimulating capacity, bound strongly to the column and eluted off in high salt (1 M NaCl). There appeared to be no significant loss of activity, though specific activity increased by twenty-fold (Table 1). Analysis by gel electrophoresis of both the peak (28-34 min. in FIG. 3) and the shoulder (35-45 min. in FIG. 3) is shown in FIG. 6A (columns 4 and 5, respectively). Two predominant protein bands resulted: a broad doublet around 25-35 kDa and a second doublet around 110-130 kDa.

[0092] In the fourth purification step, the active peak was applied to a series of molecular sieves. Spectrophotometric monitoring of the eluant revealed two large peaks of protein (FIG. 4). Activity corresponded to the first, higher molecular weight peak. Recovery of activity was ˜48% with a five-fold increase in specific activity. Analysis by gel electrophoresis was performed under non-reducing and reducing conditions as shown in FIG. 6B (columns 2 and 3, respectively). This fractionation step had essentially removed all contaminating protein of molecular weight<55 kDa. The predominant band remaining has a molecular weight of 120 kDa unreduced and 125 kDa reduced; there are two minor bands with molecular weights 85 kDa and 60 kDa. The fact that the 120 kDa protein changes so little in electrophoretic mobility after reduction would tend to indicate a paucity of disulfide bonds. However, the existing disulfide bonds have functional significance because motility-stimulating activity is labile to reduction.

[0093] The fifth purification step involved fractionation of the active peak by strong anion exchange chromatography. As shown in FIG. 5, activity corresponds to two broad optical absorbance peaks in the middle of the gradient with contaminating proteins eluting earlier. These two peaks were identical by amino acid analysis and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic separation. They presumably represent different glycosylation states of the same parent protein. Activity is shown in FIG. 5 at two different sample dilutions. Several dilutions of the fractionated samples were often necessary in order to resolve the true “peak” of activity as the shape of the ATX dilution curve was not sharp due to saturation and down regulation at high concentrations. Recovery from this chromatographic step is lower (5% compared to phenyl Sepharose), as might be expected when a minute quantity of protein is applied to a column; however, specific activity again increased (Table 1). Analysis by gel electrophoresis revealed a single protein band at molecular weight 120 kDa, unreduced (FIG. 6C, column 2).

Example 2 Characterization of Autotaxin

[0094] Two dimensional gel electrophoresis of the purified protein (FIG. 7) revealed a single predominant band. The band slopes downward slightly toward the basic side of the gel in a manner that is characteristic of glycosylated proteins. A basic pI of 7.7±0.2 was essentially the same whether the isoelectric focusing was run under non-equilibrium conditions (5 hr.) or was allowed to go to equilibrium (17 hr.).

[0095] A dilution curve of the purified protein is shown in FIG. 8. The protein is active in the picomolar range and 1 unit of activity appears to correspond to a concentration of 400-600 picomolar (or approximately 10 fmol of ATX/Boyden chamber well). When dilutions were begun at higher concentrations of ATX, the resultant curve showed a broad plateau with down-regulation at the highest concentrations. The motility response to purified autotaxin is highly sensitive to pertussis toxin (hereinafter referred to as “ PT”) (Table 2 and FIG. 9) with approximately 95% inhibition of activity at 0.5 μg/ml PT. TABLE 2 Effect of Pertussis Toxin (PT) on Autotaxin-stimulated motility A2058 Motility Response (density units¹) control cells² Pertussis toxin-treated cells³ Condition medium⁴ 60.3 0.4 Purified Autotaxin 38.5 0.0

[0096] Checkerboard analysis was performed to assess the random (chemokinetic) versus the directed (chemotactic) nature of the motility response to ATX. Chambers were assembled with different concentrations of ATX above and below the filter, using ATX purified through the weak anion exchange fractionation step. Squares below the diagonal reflect response to a positive gradient, squares above reflect response to a negative gradient, and squares on the diagonal reflect random motility in the absence of a gradient. ATX stimulates both chemotactic and chemokinetic responses (FIG. 10), with chemotactic responses as high as fifteen-fold above background and chemokinesis as high as eight-fold above background.

[0097] Amino acid analysis after complete acid hydrolysis was used to quantitate purified protein. This hydrolysis was carried out on protein excised from a polyacrylamide gel and presumed to be pure. The analysis indicated that 2.7 nmol of protein was present after fractionation on the molecular sieve. After fractionation by strong anion exchange chromatography, approximately 300 pmol remained. The results of the analysis are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF AUTOTAXIN (CYS and TRP were not determined in this analysis) Amino Acid Residues/100 ASX 12.5 THR 6.0 SER 5.7 GLX 9.4 PRO 7.4 GLY 7.0 ALA 3.9 VAL 6.7 MET 1.2 ILE 4.3 LEU 9.0 TYR 5.2 PHE 5.2 HIS 3.8 LYS 7.4 ARG 5.4

Example 3 ATX Degradation and Determination of Amino Acid Sequence

[0098] Attempts to obtain N-terminal sequence information from purified ATX repeatedly proved futile. The purified protein was therefore, sequentially digested and the resulting peptides fractionated by reverse phase chromatography. The results are shown in FIG. 11. Multiple sharp peaks including clusters at both the hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends of the gradient are seen.

[0099] Several of these peptide peaks were chosen randomly for Edman degradation and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Seven of the eight peaks (shown in FIG. 11) chosen gave clear single sequence information as seen in Table 4. Using material from a separate digestion and purification, the remaining four sequences were also obtained.

[0100] Separate sense and antisense oligonucleotide probes were synthesized according to the fragment sequences of Table 4 by methods known to one skilled in the art. Representative probes are shown in Table 5. TABLE 4 Peptide sequences for Autotaxin. PEPTIDE AMINO ACID SEQ ID: NO. SEQUENCE NO: NAME 1. WHVA SEQ ID NO: 1 ATX 18 2. PLDVYK SEQ ID NO: 2 ATX 19 3. YPAFK SEQ ID NO: 3 ATX 20 4. QAEVS SEQ ID NO: 4 ATX 24 5. PEEVTRPNYL SEQ ID NO: 5 ATX 29 6. YDVPWNETI SEQ ID NO: 6 ATX 47 7. VPPFENIELY SEQ ID NO: 7 ATX 48 8. GGQPLWITATK SEQ ID NO: 8 ATX 100 9. VNSMQTVFVGY- SEQ ID NO: 9 ATX 101 GPTFK 10. DIEHLTSLDFFR SEQ ID NO: 10 ATX 102 11. TEFLSNYLTNVDD- SEQ ID NO: 11 ATX 103 ITLVPETLGR 12. QYLHQYGSS SEQ ID NO: 26 ATX 37 13. VLNYF SEQ ID NO: 27 ATX 39 14. YLNAT SEQ ID NO: 28 ATX 40 15. HLLYGRPAVLY SEQ ID NO: 29 ATX 41 16. SYPEILTPADN SEQ ID NO: 30 ATX 44 17. XYGFLFPPYLSSSP SEQ ID NO: 31 ATX 53 18. TFPNLYTFATGLY SEQ ID NO: 32 ATX 59 19. VNVISGPIFDYDYDGLH SEQ ID NO: 33 ATX 104 DTEDK

[0101] Peptide numbers 1-7 refer to peaks numbered in FIG. 11. Peptide numbers 12-18 refer to peptides purified from the preparation which yielded peptide numbers 1-7. Peptides 8-11 and 19, are from a separate purification, not shown in FIG. 11.

[0102] X refers to potentially glycosylated residues. TABLE 5 Oligonucleotides synthesized from peptide sequences of autotaxin (ATX). The number of the oligonucleotide corresponds to the ATX peptide number as per Table 4. The final letter suffix distinguishes whether the oligonucleotide is a sense (S) or antisense (A) sequence. Oligo Sequence SEQ ID NO: A-18A GTT-GGC-AGC-NAC-RTG-CCA SEQ ID NO: 12 A-18S TGG-CAY-GTN-GCT-GCC-AAC SEQ ID NO: 13 A-20A CTT-GAA-GGC-AGG-GTA SEQ ID NO: 14 A-20S TAY-CCT-GCN-TTY-AAG SEQ ID NO: 15 A-29A GGT-NAC-YTC-YTC-AGG SEQ ID NO: 16 A-29S CCT-GAR-GAR-GTN-ACC SEQ ID NO: 17 A-47A NGT-NGC-RTC-RAA-TGG-CAC-RTC SEQ ID NO: 18 A-47S GAY-GTG-CCA-TTY-GAY-GCN-ACN SEQ ID NO: 19 A-48A GTT-DAT-RTT-STC-RAA-TGG-GGG SEQ ID NO: 20 A-48S CCC-CCA-TTT-GAG-AAC-ATC-AAC SEQ ID NO: 21 A-100A CTT-NGT-NGC-NGT-DAT-CCA-NAR- SEQ ID NO: 22 GGG-YTG-GCC-GCC A-100S GGC-GGC-CAR-CCC-YTN-TGG-ATH- SEQ ID NO: 23 ACN-GCN-ACN-AAG A-101A CTT-RAA-GGT-GGG-GCC-RTA-GCC- SEQ ID NO: 24 CAC-RAA-GAC-TGT-YTG-CAT A-101S ATG-CAR-ACA-GTC-TTY-GTG-GGC- SEQ ID NO: 25 TAY-GGC-CCC-ACC-TTY-AAR

Example 4 Antipeptide Antibodies

[0103] Rabbits were injected with ATX-101 (SEQ ID NO: 10) which had been cross-linked to bovine serum albumin. Antisera from these rabbits was subjected to salt precipitation followed by purification using affinity chromatography with Affi-Gel 10 beads covalently linked to the peptide, ATX-101 (SEQ ID NO: 10). This affinity purified antibody reacted with the partially purified protein on immunoblots. This same antibody has been used to perform immunohistochemical stains on human tissue.

Example 5 Enzymatic Deglycosylation of ATX

[0104] Purified ATX that was to be treated with peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) was first dialyzed into 0.2 M sodium phosphate, 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol pH 7.0, using Centricon-30 ultrafiltration tubes. Varying concentrations of PNGase F were added to the ATX and incubated 16-18 hr. at 37° C. Complete digestion appeared to occur at concentrations of enzyme above 30 mU/ml (where 1 U converts 1 mmol of substrate/min). For comparison, the experiments were repeated in the presence of 0.1 M β-mercaptoethanol or 0.1% (w/v) SDS plus 0.5% (v.v) Nonidet-P40. ATX that was to be treated with neuraminidase or O-glycosidase was dialyzed into 20 mM sodium phosphate, 0.1 M calcium acetate, and 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol (pH 7.2). Neuraminidase was added to a final concentration of 2 U/ml. For treatment with neuraminidase alone, this mixture was incubated 16-18 hr at 37° C. Since O-glycosidase requires the removal of terminal sialic acid residues for efficient deglycosylation, ATX was pre-incubated with neuraminidase for 30-125 mU/ml and incubated 16-18 hr. at 37° C. The treated ATX was then dialyzed into 50 mM Tris with 20% ethylene glycol for storage at 5%C.

Treatment of ATX with N-glycosylation Altering Agents

[0105] A2058 cells were split into four 150 cm² flasks and incubated until just subconfluent in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The medium was then replaced with fresh 10% FCS/DMEM to which had been added DPBS for control, 1 mM dMAN, 1 mM NMdNM, or 10 mM (1.7 mg/ml) Swn. Concentrations of these pharmacological agents were similar to those previously described as inhibiting N-glycan processing enzymes in melanoma cells (Seftor, et al. 1991; Dennis, et al. 1990) as well as carcinoma cells (Ogier, et al. 1990). On the next day, each flask was washed twice with Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline with calcium (“DPBS”) then 20 ml of Dulbecco's minimum essential medium (“DMEM”) supplemented with 0.01% (w/v) bovine serum albumin (“BSA”) was added. The same concentration of each agent was added to the appropriate equilibrated flask and incubated for ˜24 hr, after which the medium from each treatment group was collected, concentrated, washed into DPBS and stored at 5° C.

[0106] Cells from each flask were trypsinized and counted. There was no loss of viability or reduced cell number in any of the treatment groups compared to control cells.

Effect of PNGase F on ATX

[0107] ATX binds to concanavalin A (“Con A”) agarose beads and is eluted with buffer containing 0.5 M methyl a-D-mannopyranoside, indicating that ATX is likely to contain mannose residues. Such mannose sugar residues are most characteristic of N-linked oligosaccharides. In order to verify that ATX contained asparagine-linked oligosaccharides, we treated it with the endoglycosidase, PNGase F, which cleaves high mannose, hybrid, and complex N-linked oligosaccharides at the asparagine residue.

[0108] Partially purified ATX was treated with 60 mU/ml of enzyme under a variety of increasingly denaturing conditions and then separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (FIG. 16). Lane 1 shows untreated material; the 125 kDA band (arrow) is autotaxin. When this material is treated overnight with PNGase F under very mild conditions, the size of the 125 kDa band decreases to ˜100-105 kDa. Addition of 0.1 M b-mercaptoethanol (Lane 2) or 0.5% Nonidet-P40 (lane 3) to the ATX sample has no effect on the size of the resultant protein band. Even complete denaturation of ATX of boiling the sample for 3 min in 0.1% SDS with (lane 5) or without (lane 4) β-mercaptoethanol, followed by addition of 0.5% Nonidet-P40 to maintain enzymatic activity, has no effect on the final size of deglycosylated protein, indicating that the deglycosidation reaction was complete even under mild conditions.

[0109] Because these results showed that ATX contained N-linked oligosaccharide groups, it became important to see if these sugar moieties were necessary for stimulation of motility. The partially purified ATX sample was treated with varying concentrations of PNGase F (0.1 to 60 mU/ml) under mild, non-denaturing conditions. Analysis of the resulting digest by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is shown in FIG. 17A. As this figure shows, the digestion was incomplete using from 0.1 to 10 mU/ml of enzyme and resulted in a smear of protein between 100-125 kDa. However, at higher concentrations of enzyme, cleavage of N-linked oligosaccharides from ATX appears to be complete. When these different digestion products were compared for their capacity to stimulate motility (FIG. 17B), there was no significant difference between groups.

Example 6 Cloning the 3′ end of Autotaxin (4C11)

[0110] ATX is active in picomolar to nanomolar concentrations and is synthesized in very small concentrations by A2058 cells. As might be expected, the cDNA clone was relatively rare, requiring various strategies and multiple library screenings in order to identify it (FIG. 12). Attempts to utilize degenerate oligonucleotides deduced from known peptide sequences were unsuccessful—whether we used the oligo nucleotides for screening cDNA libraries or for reverse transcription of mRNA followed by amplification with the polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR). We then utilized an affinity-purified anti-peptide ATX-102 antibodies to screen an A2058 expression library.

[0111] These anti-peptide antibodies were generated by methods well established in the art and described previously with slight modification (Wacher, et al., 1990). In brief, the previously identified peptide, ATX-102 (Stracke, et al., 1992), was synthesized on a Biosearch 9600 peptide synthesizer. It was then solubilized in 1×PBS containing 20% (v/v) DMSO and conjugated to the protein carrier, bovine serum albumin (BSA), with glutaraldehyde. For the first injection into New Zealand white rabbits, the BSA-peptide conjugate was emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant and injected subcutaneously. For subsequent injections, the BSA-peptide conjugate was emulsified with incomplete Freund's adjuvant. The resultant antiserum was heat-inactivated at 56° C. for 30 min. Immunoglobulins were precipitated out in 47% saturated ammonium sulfate, then redissolved and dialyzed into PBS. Antibodies were adsorbed onto peptide-conjugated Affi-Gel 10 resin (made using the BioRad protocol), eluted with 0.1 N acetic acid, and neutralized with 2 M Tris-HCl, pH 8. The resulting affinity-purified antibodies were dialyzed into DPBS, concentrated, aliquotted, and stored at −20° C. The antibodies were found to recognize a 125 kDa protein on immunoblots of partially purified A2058 conditioned medium and to preferentially stain some breast carcinoma cells compared to normal breast using immunohistochemical techniques.

[0112] An A2058 cDNA library was prepared by purifying poly-A purified mRNA from the cells then size-selecting mRNA >1000 bp for the preparation of cDNA. The cDNA inserts were placed into λgt11 directionally, using the ProMega cDNA kit using standard methods well-established in the field. LE 392 cells were infected with the λgt11 and plaques were transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes by overnight incubation at 37° C. The antibody was incubated with the membranes in blocking buffer for 2 hr at room temperature, using approximately twice the concentration of antibody which gave a strong response on Western blot analysis. Secondary antibody was goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin, and the blot was developed colorimetrically with 4-chloro-1-naphthol.

[0113] Positive clones were confirmed by antibody competition with specific peptides but not unrelated peptides. Using this technique and multiple subclonings, we obtained a partial cDNA clone of the autotaxin gene, which we called 4C11. The 4C11 insert was removed from λgt11 by restriction enzyme digests and subcloned into pBluescript for sequencing by standard Sanger techniques (Sanger, et al., 1977). The 4C11 clone contained bases, including the poly-adenylated tail and the AATAAA adenylation signal locus, i.e., it contained the 3′ terminus of the gene. It also included a 627 base open reading frame. Database analysis of this nucleotide sequence revealed that it is unique. The predicated amino acid sequence for 4C11 is 209 amino acids long with exact matches for 7 previously identified ATX peptides: (ATX-20, ATX-34, ATX-102, ATX-104, ATX-204, ATX-215, and ATX-244).

Example 7 Cloning the 5′ Terminus of ATX

[0114] Database analysis of the 3′ terminus of the ATX gene demonstrated a novel protein. However, we have found an interesting homology that has helped to guide us in exploring its function. ATX had a 45% amino acid identity and a 57% nucleotide identity with PC-1, a marker of B cell activation found on the surface of plasma cells. Using the PC-1 protein sequence as a guide, we found that ATX peptide homologies were scattered throughout the length of the protein. The only exception was the far amino terminus of PC-1, which includes the transmembrane and intracellular domains, and which had no homologies. Knowing approximate localization of the ATX peptides along the length of ATX, we then amplified different segments of ATX by the PCR (FIG. 13). These amplified segments of DNA were then subcloned into plasmids utilizing the TA Cloning kit of ProMega. The PCR amplified DNA could then be sequenced using standard Sanger sequencing techniques (Sanger, et al., 1977).

Cloning of Full Length ATX Gene

[0115] A reverse transcriptase reaction was performed using total or oligo-(dT) purified RNA from A2058 or N-tera 2D1 cells as template and an anti-sense primer from the 5′ end of 4C11 (GCTCAGATAAGGAGGAAAGAG). This was followed by one or two PCR amplification of the resultant cDNA using the commercially available kit from Perkin-Elmer and following manufacturer's directions. These PCR reactions utilized nested antisense primers from 4C11 (GAATCCGTAGGACATCTGCTT and TGTAGGCCAAACAGTTCTGAC) as well as degenerate, nested sense primers deduced from ATX peptides: ATX-101 (AAYTCIATGCARACIGTITTYGTIG and TTYGTIGGITAYGGICCIACITTYAA), ATX-103 (AAYTAYCTIACIAAYGTIGAYGAYAT and GAYGAYATIACICTIGTICCIGGIAC), or ATX-224 (TGYTTYGARYTICARGARGCIGGICCICC). The amplified DNA was then purified from a polyacrylamide gel using standard procedures and ligated into the pCR™ plasmid using the TA cloning kit (Invitrogen Corporation) according to manufacturer's directions.

[0116] The 5′ RACE kit was utilized to extend the 5′ end of ATX cDNA using total RNA from N-tera 2D1 as template and previously obtained sequence as primer (GCTGTCTTCAAACACAGC). The 5′ end of the A2058 synthesized protein was obtained by using previously obtained sequence as primer (CTGGTGGCTGTAATCCATAGC) in a reverse transcriptase reaction with total A2058 RNA as template, followed by PCR amplification utilizing the 5′ end of N-tera 2D1 sequence as sense primer (CGTGAAGGCAAAGAGAACACG) and a nested antisense primer (GCTGTCTTCAAACACAGC). A2058 DNA encoding ATX is set forth in a SEQ ID NO: 68 and the amino acid sequence is provided in SEQ ID NO: 69.

[0117] DNA Sequencing

[0118] DNA sequencing was performed using dideoxy methodology (Sanger, et al. 1977) and (³⁵S)dATP (Du Pont, New England Nuclear).

[0119] We have found one region between the 5′ end of the 4C11 and the ATX peptide designated ATX-101, also referred to as the “hot spot”. This region has been sequenced five times with different sequences found each time. The hot spot appears to be located within the region from approximately nucleotide 1670 to 1815. The consensus sequence is represented by amino acids position 559 through 604. Variations found include DNA sequence that results in single and multiple amino acid insertions. One sequence had a stop codon in this region and may have represented an intron. This region has been found to be variable in forms of ATX.

Example 8 Cloning ATX in a Human Teratocarcinoma Cell Line

[0120] The fact that ATX is present in other cancer cells was confirmed by sequence information from N-tera 2D1, a human teratocarcinoma cell line. For these cells, a prepared cDNA library in λgt10 was amplified and the cDNA inserts were extracted. Using oligonucleotide primers based on known A2058 ATX sequence, DNA segments were amplified by PCR. The DNA segments were then subcloned into plasmids and sequenced as for A2058. We have 3104 bp DNA sequence for N-tera ATX (SEQ ID NO: 66) and smaller portions thereof. This includes an open reading frame that codes for a putative protein containing 861 amino acids (SEQ ID NO: 67) and smaller portions thereof. Like the A2058 ATX, the N-tera 2D1 sequence has homologies for multiple ATX peptides (FIG. 15). Sequence homology between the A2058 and N-tera 2D1 cells is approximately 99%.

Example 9 Cloning 5′ end of ATX in Human Normal Liver

[0121] The 5′ end of ATX has proven difficult to obtain from either tumor cell line to date. Normal human liver mRNA was therefore amplified using the 5′ RACE kit (Clontech) with known sequence from A2058 ATX as antisense primer. A DNA segment was obtained and has been sequenced. This segment codes for 979 amino acids, including an initiating methionine (SEQ ID NO: 38). The putative protein sequence also includes a 20 amino acid transmembrane domain which is different from the tumor ATX's (SEQ ID NO: 54), as shown in Table 7. Both tumorous forms of ATX apparently lack a transmembrane region and are instead secreted proteins. TABLE 7 Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequences Encoding Liver ATX Amino Terminus containing the Transmembrane region Protein Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 54) Met Ala Arg Arg Ser Ser Phe Gln Ser Cys Gln Asp Ile Ser Leu Phe Thr Phe Ala Val Gly Val Asn Ile Cys Leu Gly Phe Thr Ala His Arg Ile Lys Arg Ala Glu Gly Trp

[0122] DNA Sequence (SEQ ID NO: 53) ATGGCAAGGA GGAGCTCGTT CCAGTCGTGT CAAGATATAT CCCTGTTCAC TTTTGCCGTT GGAGTCAATA TCTGCTTAGG ATTCACTGCA CATCGAATTA AGAGAGCAGA AGGATGG

Example 10 Domains of ATX

[0123] Searches of protein databases (Pearson, et. al. 1988) confirmed that the homology between ATX and PC-1 was present throughout the length of the extracellular portion of the molecules (Buckley, et. al., 1990; Funakoshi, et. al. 1992). There is a 45% amino acid identity and a 64% similarity between the 2 protein sequences (FIG. 18). For the cDNA sequence, the identity is ˜57%.

[0124] These proteins share several interesting properties and domains (FIG. 19). Both have a number of potential N-linked glycosylation sites: four for ATX (Asn54, Asn463, Asn577, Asn859) and nine for PC-1. Both have adjacent somatomedin B domains near the amino end of the extracellular domain. This somatomedin B domain is a cysteine-rich region containing 3 presumed cystine cross-linkages. ATX has 33 Cys residues and PC-1 has 37; 30 of these Cys residues are identical in placement. Both proteins also contain the loop region of an EF hand (Buckley, et. al. 1990; Kretsinger, 1987). In addition, both proteins have a transmembrane/signal peptide region with a short intracellular peptide, common in ectoenzymes (Maroux, 1987). However, the amino acid identity between ATX and PC-1 in the intracellular and transmembrane regions is only 11%.

[0125] Finally, both proteins have a region homologous to the bovine intestinal phosphodiesterase enzymatic domain with conversation of the threonine that is thought to act as the intermediate phosphate binding site (Culp, et al. 1985). PC-1 has been demonstrated to have phosphodiesterase type I, nucleotide pyrophosphatase, and threonine-specific kinase enzymatic activities (Rebbe, et al. 1991; Oda, et al. 1991). In order to test whether purified ATX had type I phosphodiesterase activity, samples were incubated with p-nitrophenyl thymidine-5′-monophosphate at pH 8.9 for 30 min. Samples were assayed in a 100 μl volume containing 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.9 and 5 mM p-nitrophenyl thymidine-5′-monophosphate. After a 30 minute incubation at 37° C. the reactions were terminated by addition of 900 ml 0.1 N NaOH and the amount of product formed was determined by reading the absorbance at 410 nm. ATX was found to hydrolyze the p-nitrophenyl thymidine-5′-monophosphate (Razzell, 1963) at a rate of 10 pmol/ng/min, a reaction rate similar to that reported for PC-1 (Oda, et al. 1993).

REFERENCES

[0126] Atnip, K. D., et al. (1987) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 146, 996-1002

[0127] Buckley, M. F., Loveland, K. A., McKinstry, W. J., Garson, O. M. and Goding, J. W. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17506-17511

[0128] Culp, J. S., Blytt, H. J., Hermodson, M. and Butler, L. G. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 8320-8324

[0129] Dennis, J. W., Koch, K., Yousefi, S. and VanderElst, I. (1990) Cancer Res. 50, 1867-1872

[0130] Funakoshi, I., Kato, H., Horie, K., Yano, T., Hori, Y., Kobayashi, H., Inoue, T., Suzuki, H., Fukui, S., Tsukahara, M., Kajii, T. and Yamashina, I. (1992) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 295, 180-187

[0131] Gospodarowicz, D. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 6963-6967

[0132] Guirguis, R., et al. (1987) Nature 329, 261-263

[0133] Jouanneau, J., et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 2893-2897

[0134] Kahan, B. W. et al., (1987) Cancer Res. 47, 6324-6328

[0135] Kretsinger, R. H. (1987) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Bio. 52, 499-510

[0136] Kohler and Milstein, (1975) Nature 256:495-497

[0137] Kohn, E. C., et al. (1990) Int. J. Cancer 46, 287-292

[0138] Laemmli U. K. (1970) Nature 227, 680-685

[0139] Landsteiner, Specificity of Serological Reactions (Dover Publications, New York, 1962)

[0140] Liotta, L. A., et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 3302-3306

[0141] Liotta, L. A., et al. (1988) Cancer Surveys 7, 631-652

[0142] Maciag, T., et al. (1984) Sci. 225, 932-935

[0143] Maroux, S. (1987) In A. J. Kenny and A. J. Turner (eds.) Mammalian Ectoenzymes, Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-45

[0144] McCarthy, J. B., et al. (1984) J. Cell Biol. 98, 1474-1480 Microbiology, Hoeber Medical Division (Harper and Row, 1969)

[0145] Nabi, I. R., et al. (1990) Cancer Res. 50, 409-414

[0146] Neuhoff, V., et al. (1988) Electrophoresis 9, 255-262

[0147] Oda, Y., Kuo, M. -D., Huang, S. S. and Huang, J. S. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 16791-16795

[0148] Oda, Y., Kuo, M. -D., Huang, S. S. and Huang, J. S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 27318-27326

[0149] O'Farrell, P. H. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 4007-4021

[0150] O'Farrell, P. H., et al. (1977) Cell 12, 1133-1142

[0151] Ogier-Denis, E., Trugnan, G., Sapin, C., Aubery, M. and Codogno, P. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5366-5369

[0152] Ohnishi, T., et al. (1990) J. Neurosurg. 73, 881-888

[0153] Pearson, W. R., et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 2444-2448

[0154] Razzell, W. E. (1963) Methods Enzymol. 6, 236-258

[0155] Rebbe, N., F., Tong, B. D., Finley, E. M. and Hickman, S. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 5192-5196

[0156] Rosen, E. M. et al., (1989) In Vitro Cell Devel. Biol. 25, 163-173

[0157] Rosen, E. M., et al. (1990) Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 195, 34-43

[0158] Ruff, M., et al. (1985) Clin. Immunol. Immunopath. 37, 387-396

[0159] Sanger, F. et al. (1977) Proc. National Acad. Sci. USA. 74, 5463-5467

[0160] Schnor, S. L., et al. (1988) J. Cell Sci. 90, 391-399

[0161] Seftor, R. E. B., Seftor, E. A., Grimes, W. J., Liotta, L. A.,

[0162] Stetler-Stevenson, W. G., Welch, D. R. and Hendrix, M. J. C. (1991) Melanoma Res. 1, 43-54

[0163] Silletti, S., et al. (1991) Cancer Res. 51, 3507-3511

[0164] Singer, S. J. and Kupfer, A. (1986) Ann. Rev. Cell Biol. 2, 337-365

[0165] Stites et al., editors, Basic and Clinical Immunology, (Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, Calif., Fourth edition)

[0166] Stoker, M., et al. (1987) Nature 327, 239-242

[0167] Stone, M, et al. (1989) A Practical Guide to Protein and Peptide Purification for Microsecuencing (Matsudaira, P.T., ed.) pgs. 33-47, Academic Press, N.Y.

[0168] Stracke, M. L. et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 153, 1076-1083

[0169] Stracke, M. L., et al. (1978) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 146, 339-345

[0170] Stracke, M. L., et al. (1987) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 147, 339-345

[0171] Stracke, M. L., et al. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 153, 1076-1083

[0172] Tamm, I., et al., (1989) J. Exp. Med. 170, 1649-1669

[0173] Taraboletti, G., (1987) J. Cell Biol. 105, 2409-2415

[0174] Todaro, G. J., et al. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 5258-5262

[0175] Van Snick, J. (1990) Ann. Rev. Immunol. 8, 253-278

[0176] Wang, J. M., et al. (1990) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 169, 165-170

[0177] Watanabe, H., et al. (1990) J. Cell Biol. 111, 2097-2108

[0178] Watanabe, H., et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 13442-13448

[0179] Weidner, K. M., et al. (1990) J. Cell. Biol. 111, 2097-2108

[0180] Williams et al., Methods in Immunology and Immunochemistry, Vol. 1 (Academic Press, New York, 1967)

[0181] Yoshimura, T. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 9233-9237

[0182] All publications mentioned hereinabove are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

[0183] While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the present invention and appended claims.

1 70 1 5 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 1 Trp His Val Ala Arg 1 5 2 6 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 2 Pro Leu Asp Val Tyr Lys 1 5 3 5 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 3 Tyr Pro Ala Phe Lys 1 5 4 5 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 4 Gln Ala Glu Val Ser 1 5 5 10 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 5 Pro Glu Glu Val Thr Arg Pro Asn Tyr Leu 1 5 10 6 9 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 6 Tyr Asp Val Pro Trp Asn Glu Thr Ile 1 5 7 10 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 7 Val Pro Pro Phe Glu Asn Ile Glu Leu Tyr 1 5 10 8 11 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 8 Gly Gly Gln Pro Leu Trp Ile Thr Ala Thr Lys 1 5 10 9 16 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 9 Val Asn Ser Met Gln Thr Val Phe Val Gly Tyr Gly Pro Thr Phe Lys 1 5 10 15 10 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 10 Asp Ile Glu His Leu Thr Ser Leu Asp Phe Phe Arg 1 5 10 11 23 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 11 Thr Glu Phe Leu Ser Asn Tyr Leu Thr Asn Val Asp Asp Ile Thr Leu 1 5 10 15 Val Pro Glu Thr Leu Gly Arg 20 12 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 12 gttggcagcn acrtgcca 18 13 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 13 tggcaygtng ctgccaac 18 14 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 14 cttgaaggca gggta 15 15 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 15 taycctgcnt tyaag 15 16 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 16 ggtnacytcy tcagg 15 17 15 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 17 cctgargarg tnacc 15 18 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 18 ngtngcrtcr aatggcacrt c 21 19 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 19 gaygtgccat tygaygcnac n 21 20 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 20 gttdatrtts tcraatgggg g 21 21 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 21 cccccatttg agaacatcaa c 21 22 33 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 22 cttngtngcn gtdatccana rgggytggcc gcc 33 23 33 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 23 ggcggccarc ccytntggat hacngcnacn aag 33 24 39 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 24 cttraaggtg gggccrtagc ccacraagac tgtytgcat 39 25 39 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primers 25 atgcaracag tcttygtggg ctayggcccc accttyaar 39 26 9 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 26 Gln Tyr Leu His Gln Tyr Gly Ser Ser 1 5 27 5 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 27 Val Leu Asn Tyr Phe 1 5 28 5 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 28 Tyr Leu Asn Ala Thr 1 5 29 11 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 29 His Leu Leu Tyr Gly Arg Pro Ala Val Leu Tyr 1 5 10 30 11 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 30 Ser Tyr Pro Glu Ile Leu Thr Pro Ala Asp Asn 1 5 10 31 14 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 31 Xaa Tyr Gly Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Tyr Leu Ser Ser Ser Pro 1 5 10 32 13 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 32 Thr Phe Pro Asn Leu Tyr Thr Phe Ala Thr Gly Leu Tyr 1 5 10 33 22 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 33 Val Asn Val Ile Ser Gly Pro Ile Asp Asp Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 His Asp Thr Glu Asp Lys 20 34 829 PRT Homo sapiens Putative protein sequence of A2058 Autotoxin 34 Cys His Asp Phe Asp Glu Leu Cys Leu Lys Thr Ala Arg Gly Trp Glu 1 5 10 15 Cys Thr Lys Asp Arg Cys Gly Glu Val Arg Asn Glu Glu Asn Ala Cys 20 25 30 His Cys Ser Glu Asp Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly Asp Cys Cys Thr Asn Tyr 35 40 45 Gln Val Val Cys Lys Gly Glu Ser His Trp Val Asp Asp Asp Cys Glu 50 55 60 Glu Ile Lys Ala Ala Glu Cys Pro Ala Gly Phe Val Arg Pro Pro Leu 65 70 75 80 Ile Ile Phe Ser Val Asp Gly Phe Arg Ala Ser Tyr Met Lys Lys Gly 85 90 95 Ser Lys Val Met Pro Asn Ile Glu Lys Leu Arg Ser Cys Gly Thr His 100 105 110 Ser Pro Tyr Met Arg Pro Val Tyr Pro Thr Lys Thr Phe Pro Asn Leu 115 120 125 Tyr Thr Leu Ala Thr Gly Leu Tyr Pro Glu Ser His Gly Ile Val Gly 130 135 140 Asn Ser Met Tyr Asp Pro Val Phe Asp Ala Thr Phe His Leu Arg Gly 145 150 155 160 Arg Glu Lys Phe Asn His Arg Trp Trp Gly Gly Gln Pro Leu Trp Ile 165 170 175 Thr Ala Thr Lys Gln Gly Val Lys Ala Gly Thr Phe Phe Trp Ser Val 180 185 190 Val Ile Pro His Glu Arg Arg Ile Leu Thr Ile Leu Arg Trp Leu Thr 195 200 205 Leu Pro Asp His Glu Arg Pro Ser Val Tyr Ala Phe Tyr Ser Glu Gln 210 215 220 Pro Asp Phe Ser Gly His Lys Tyr Gly Pro Phe Gly Pro Glu Glu Ser 225 230 235 240 Ser Tyr Gly Ser Pro Phe Thr Pro Ala Lys Arg Pro Lys Arg Lys Val 245 250 255 Ala Pro Lys Arg Arg Gln Glu Arg Pro Val Ala Pro Pro Lys Lys Arg 260 265 270 Arg Arg Lys Ile His Arg Met Asp His Tyr Ala Ala Glu Thr Arg Gln 275 280 285 Asp Lys Met Thr Asn Pro Leu Arg Glu Ile Asp Lys Ile Val Gly Gln 290 295 300 Leu Met Asp Gly Leu Lys Gln Leu Lys Leu Arg Arg Cys Val Asn Val 305 310 315 320 Ile Phe Val Gly Asp His Gly Met Glu Asp Val Thr Cys Asp Arg Thr 325 330 335 Glu Phe Leu Ser Asn Tyr Leu Thr Asn Val Asp Asp Ile Thr Leu Val 340 345 350 Pro Gly Thr Leu Gly Arg Ile Arg Ser Lys Phe Ser Asn Asn Ala Lys 355 360 365 Tyr Asp Pro Lys Ala Ile Ile Ala Asn Leu Thr Cys Lys Lys Pro Asp 370 375 380 Gln His Phe Lys Pro Tyr Leu Lys Gln His Leu Pro Lys Arg Leu His 385 390 395 400 Tyr Ala Asn Asn Arg Arg Ile Glu Asp Ile His Leu Leu Val Glu Arg 405 410 415 Arg Trp His Val Ala Arg Lys Pro Leu Asp Val Tyr Lys Lys Pro Ser 420 425 430 Gly Lys Cys Phe Phe Gln Gly Asp His Gly Phe Asp Asn Lys Val Asn 435 440 445 Ser Met Gln Thr Val Phe Val Gly Tyr Gly Pro Thr Phe Lys Tyr Lys 450 455 460 Thr Lys Val Pro Pro Phe Glu Asn Ile Glu Leu Tyr Asn Val Met Cys 465 470 475 480 Asp Leu Leu Gly Leu Lys Pro Ala Pro Asn Asn Gly Thr His Gly Ser 485 490 495 Leu Asn His Leu Leu Arg Thr Asn Thr Phe Arg Pro Thr Met Pro Glu 500 505 510 Glu Val Thr Arg Pro Asn Tyr Pro Gly Ile Met Tyr Leu Gln Ser Asp 515 520 525 Asp Asp Leu Gly Cys Thr Cys Asp Asp Lys Val Glu Pro Lys Asn Lys 530 535 540 Leu Asp Glu Leu Asn Lys Arg Leu His Thr Lys Gly Ser Thr Glu Glu 545 550 555 560 Arg His Leu Leu Tyr Gly Arg Pro Ala Val Leu Tyr Arg Thr Arg Tyr 565 570 575 Asp Ile Leu Tyr His Thr Asp Phe Glu Ser Gly Tyr Ser Glu Ile Phe 580 585 590 Leu Met Leu Leu Trp Thr Ser Tyr Thr Val Ser Lys Gln Ala Glu Val 595 600 605 Ser Ser Val Pro Asp His Leu Thr Ser Cys Val Arg Pro Asp Val Arg 610 615 620 Val Ser Pro Ser Phe Ser Gln Asn Cys Leu Ala Tyr Lys Asn Asp Lys 625 630 635 640 Gln Met Ser Tyr Gly Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Tyr Leu Ser Ser Ser Pro 645 650 655 Glu Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ala Phe Leu Val Thr Asn Met Val Pro Met Tyr 660 665 670 Pro Ala Phe Lys Arg Val Trp Asn Tyr Phe Gln Arg Val Leu Val Lys 675 680 685 Lys Tyr Ala Ser Glu Arg Asn Gly Val Asn Val Ile Ser Gly Pro Ile 690 695 700 Phe Asp Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Gly Leu His Asp Thr Glu Asp Lys Ile Lys 705 710 715 720 Gln Tyr Val Glu Gly Ser Ser Ile Pro Val Pro Thr His Tyr Tyr Ser 725 730 735 Ile Ile Thr Ser Cys Leu Asp Phe Thr Gln Pro Ala Asp Lys Cys Asp 740 745 750 Gly Pro Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Phe Ile Leu Pro His Arg Pro Asp Asn 755 760 765 Glu Glu Ser Cys Asn Ser Ser Glu Asp Glu Ser Lys Trp Val Glu Glu 770 775 780 Leu Met Lys Met His Thr Ala Arg Val Arg Asp Ile Glu His Leu Thr 785 790 795 800 Ser Leu Asp Phe Phe Arg Lys Thr Ser Arg Ser Tyr Pro Glu Ile Leu 805 810 815 Thr Leu Lys Thr Tyr Leu His Thr Tyr Glu Ser Glu Ile 820 825 35 2946 DNA Homo sapiens Partial DNA sequence of A2058 Autotoxin 35 gctgccatga ctttgatgag ctgtgtttga agacagcccg tggctgggag tgtactaagg 60 acagatgtgg agaagtcaga aatgaagaaa atgcctgtca ctgctcagag gactgcttgg 120 ccaggggaga ctgctgtacc aattaccaag tggtttgcaa aggagagtcg cattgggttg 180 atgatgactg tgaggaaata aaggccgcag aatgccctgc agggtttgtt cgccctccat 240 taatcatctt ctccgtggat ggcttccgtg catcatacat gaagaaaggc agcaaagtca 300 tgcctaatat tgaaaaacta aggtcttgtg gcacacactc tccctacatg aggccggtgt 360 acccaactaa aacctttcct aacttataca ctttggccac tgggctatat ccagaatcac 420 atggaattgt tggcaattca atgtatgatc ctgtatttga tgccactttt catctgcgag 480 ggcgagagaa atttaatcat agatggtggg gaggtcaacc gctatggatt acagccacca 540 agcaaggggt gaaagctgga acattctttt ggtctgttgt catccctcac gagcggagaa 600 tattaaccat attgcggtgg ctcaccctgc cagatcatga gaggccttcg gtctatgcct 660 tctattctga gcaacctgat ttctctggac acaaatatgg ccctttcggc cctgaggaga 720 gtagttatgg ctcacctttt actccggcta agagacctaa gaggaaagtt gcccctaaga 780 ggagacagga aagaccagtt gctcctccaa agaaaagaag aagaaaaata cataggatgg 840 atcattatgc tgcggaaact cgtcaggaca aaatgacaaa tcctctgagg gaaatcgaca 900 aaattgtggg gcaattaatg gatggactga aacaactaaa actgcgtcgg tgtgtcaacg 960 tcatctttgt cggagaccat ggaatggaag atgtcacatg tgatagaact gagttcttga 1020 gtaattacct aactaatgtg gatgatatta ctttagtgcc tggaactcta ggaagaattc 1080 gatccaaatt tagcaacaat gctaaatatg accccaaagc cattattgcc aatctcacgt 1140 gtaaaaaacc agatcagcac tttaagcctt acttgaaaca gcaccttccc aaacgtttgc 1200 actatgccaa caacagaaga attgaggata tccatttatt ggtggaacgc agatggcatg 1260 ttgcaaggaa acctttggat gtttataaga aaccatcagg aaaatgcttt ttccagggag 1320 accacggatt tgataacaag gtcaacagca tgcagactgt ttttgtaggt tatggcccaa 1380 catttaagta caagactaaa gtgcctccat ttgaaaacat tgaactttac aatgttatgt 1440 gtgatctcct gggattgaag ccagctccta ataatgggac ccatggaagt ttgaatcatc 1500 tcctgcgcac taataccttc aggccaacca tgccagagga agttaccaga cccaattatc 1560 cagggattat gtaccttcag tctgattttg acctgggctg cacttgtgat gataaggtag 1620 agccaaagaa caagttggat gaactcaaca aacggcttca tacaaaaggg tctacagaag 1680 agagacacct cctctatggg cgacctgcag tgctttatcg gactagatat gatatcttat 1740 atcacactga ctttgaaagt ggttatagtg aaatattcct aatgctactc tggacatcat 1800 atactgtttc caaacaggct gaggtttcca gcgttcctga ccatctgacc agttgcgtcc 1860 ggcctgatgt ccgtgtttct ccgagtttca gtcagaactg tttggcctac aaaaatgata 1920 agcagatgtc ctacggattc ctctttcctc cttatctgag ctcttcacca gaggctaaat 1980 atgatgcatt ccttgtaacc aatatggttc caatgtatcc tgctttcaaa cgggtctgga 2040 attatttcca aagggtattg gtgaagaaat atgcttcgga aagaaatgga gttaacgtga 2100 taagtggacc aatcttcgac tatgactatg atggcttaca tgacacagaa gacaaaataa 2160 aacagtacgt ggaaggcagt tccattcctg ttccaactca ctactacagc atcatcacca 2220 gctgtctgga tttcactcag cctgccgaca agtgtgacgg ccctctctct gtgtcctcct 2280 tcatcctgcc tcaccggcct gacaaagagg agagctgcaa tagctcagag gacgaatcaa 2340 aatgggtaga agaactcatg aagatgcaca cagctagggt gcgtgacatt gaacatctca 2400 ccagcctgga cttcttccga aagaccagcc gcagctaccc agaaatcctg acactcaaga 2460 catacctgca tacatatgag agcgagattt aactttctga gcatctgcag tacagtctta 2520 tcaactggtt gtatattttt atattgtttt tgtatttatt aatttgaaac caggacatta 2580 aaaatgttag tattttaatc ctgtaccaaa tctgacatat tatgcctgaa tgactccact 2640 gtttttctct aatgcttgat ttaggtagcc ttgtgttctg agtagagctt gtaataaata 2700 ctgcagcttg agaaaaagtg gaagcttcta aatggtgctg cagatttgat atttgcattg 2760 aggaaatatt aattttccaa tgcacagttg ccacatttag tcctgtactg tatggaaaca 2820 ctgattttgt aaagttgcct ttatttgctg ttaactgtta actatgacag atatatttaa 2880 gccttataaa ccaatcttaa acataataaa tcacacattc agttttaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2940 aaaaaa 2946 36 788 PRT Homo sapiens N-tera 2D1 putative ATX protein sequence 36 Cys Asp Asn Leu Cys Lys Ser Tyr Thr Ser Cys Cys His Asp Phe Asp 1 5 10 15 Glu Leu Cys Leu Lys Thr Ala Arg Ala Trp Glu Cys Thr Lys Asp Arg 20 25 30 Cys Gly Glu Val Arg Asn Glu Glu Asn Ala Cys His Cys Ser Glu Asp 35 40 45 Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly Asp Cys Cys Thr Asn Tyr Gln Val Val Cys Lys 50 55 60 Gly Glu Ser His Trp Val Asp Asp Asp Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ala Ala 65 70 75 80 Glu Cys Leu Gln Val Asp Ser Pro Ser Ile Asn His Leu Leu Arg Gly 85 90 95 Trp Leu Pro Met Thr Ser Tyr Met Lys Lys Gly Ser Lys Val Met Pro 100 105 110 Asn Ile Glu Lys Leu Arg Ser Cys Gly Thr His Ser Pro Tyr Met Arg 115 120 125 Pro Val Tyr Pro Thr Lys Thr Phe Pro Asn Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ala Thr 130 135 140 Gly Leu Tyr Pro Glu Ser His Gly Ile Val Gly Asn Ser Met Tyr Asp 145 150 155 160 Pro Val Phe Asp Ala Thr Phe His Leu Arg Gly Arg Glu Lys Phe Asn 165 170 175 His Arg Trp Trp Ala Gly Gln Pro Leu Trp Ile Thr Ala Thr Lys Gln 180 185 190 Arg Gly Glu Ser Trp Asn Ile Leu Leu Val Cys Cys His Pro Ser Arg 195 200 205 Ala Glu Ile Leu Thr Ile Leu Gln Trp Leu Thr Leu Pro Asp His Glu 210 215 220 Arg Pro Ser Val Tyr Ala Phe Tyr Ser Glu Gln Pro Asp Phe Ser Gly 225 230 235 240 His Lys His Met Pro Phe Gly Pro Glu Met Pro Asn Pro Leu Arg Glu 245 250 255 Met His Lys Ile Val Gly Gln Leu Met Asp Gly Leu Lys Gln Leu Lys 260 265 270 Leu His Arg Cys Val Asn Val Ile Phe Val Glu Thr Met Asp Gly Arg 275 280 285 Cys His Met Tyr Arg Thr Glu Phe Leu Ser Asn Tyr Leu Thr Asn Val 290 295 300 Asp Asp Ile Thr Leu Val Pro Gly Thr Leu Gly Arg Ile Arg Ser Lys 305 310 315 320 Phe Ser Asn Asn Ala Lys Tyr Asp Pro Lys Ala Ile Ile Ala Asn Leu 325 330 335 Thr Cys Lys Lys Pro Asp Gln His Phe Lys Pro Tyr Leu Lys Gln His 340 345 350 Leu Pro Lys Arg Leu His Tyr Ala Asn Asn Arg Arg Ile Glu Asp Ile 355 360 365 His Leu Leu Val Glu Arg Arg Trp His Val Ala Arg Lys Pro Leu Asp 370 375 380 Val Tyr Lys Lys Pro Ser Gly Asn Ala Phe Ser Arg Glu Thr Thr Ala 385 390 395 400 Phe Asp Asn Lys Val Asn Ser Met Gln Thr Val Phe Val Gly Tyr Gly 405 410 415 Pro Thr Phe Lys Tyr Lys Thr Lys Val Pro Pro Phe Glu Asn Ile Glu 420 425 430 Leu Tyr Asn Val Met Cys Asp Leu Leu Gly Leu Lys Pro Ala Pro Asn 435 440 445 Asn Gly Thr His Phe Ser Leu Asn His Leu Leu Arg Thr Asn Thr Phe 450 455 460 Arg Pro Thr Met Pro Glu Glu Val Thr Arg Pro Asn Tyr Pro Gly Ile 465 470 475 480 Met Tyr Leu Gln Ser Asp Phe Asp Leu Gly Cys Thr Cys Asp Asp Lys 485 490 495 Val Glu Pro Lys Asn Lys Leu Asp Glu Leu Asn Lys Arg Leu His Thr 500 505 510 Lys Gly Ser Thr Glu Glu Arg His Leu Leu Tyr Gly Asp Arg Pro Ala 515 520 525 Val Leu Tyr Arg Thr Arg Tyr Asp Ile Leu Tyr His Thr Asp Phe Glu 530 535 540 Ser Gly Tyr Ser Glu Ile Phe Leu Met Pro Leu Trp Thr Ser Tyr Thr 545 550 555 560 Val Ser Lys Gln Ala Glu Val Ser Ser Val Pro Asp His Leu Thr Ser 565 570 575 Cys Val Arg Pro Asp Val Arg Val Ser Pro Ser Phe Ser Gln Asn Cys 580 585 590 Leu Ala Tyr Lys Asn Asp Lys Gln Met Ser Tyr Gly Gly Leu Gly Pro 595 600 605 Pro Tyr Leu Ser Ser Ser Pro Glu Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ala Phe Leu Val 610 615 620 Thr Asn Met Val Pro Met Tyr Pro Ala Phe Lys Arg Val Trp Asn Tyr 625 630 635 640 Phe Gln Arg Val Leu Val Lys Lys Tyr Ala Ser Glu Arg Asn Gly Val 645 650 655 Asn Val Ile Ser Gly Pro Ile Phe Asp Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Gly Leu His 660 665 670 Asp Thr Glu Asp Lys Ile Lys Gln Tyr Val Glu Gly Ser Ser Ile Pro 675 680 685 Val Pro Thr His Tyr Tyr Ser Ile Ile Thr Ser Cys Leu Asp Phe Thr 690 695 700 Gln Pro Ala Asp Lys Cys Asp Gly Pro Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Phe Ile 705 710 715 720 Leu Pro His Arg Pro Asp Asn Glu Glu Ser Cys Asn Ser Ser Glu Asp 725 730 735 Glu Ser Lys Trp Val Glu Glu Leu Met Lys Met His Thr Ala Arg Val 740 745 750 Arg Asp Ile Glu His Leu Thr Ser Leu Asp Phe Phe Arg Lys Thr Ser 755 760 765 Arg Ser Tyr Pro Glu Ile Leu Thr Leu Lys Thr Tyr Leu His Thr Tyr 770 775 780 Glu Ser Glu Ile 785 37 2712 DNA Homo sapiens N-tera 2D1 ATX DNA sequence 37 tgtgacaact tgtgtaagag ctataccagt tgctgccatg actttgatga gctgtgtttg 60 aagacagccc gtgcgtggga gtgtactaag gacagatgtg gggaagtcag aaatgaagaa 120 aatgcctgtc actgctcaga ggactgcttg gccaggggag actgctgtaa caattaccaa 180 gtggtttgca aaggagagtc gcattgggtt gatgatgact gtgaggaaat aaaggccgca 240 gaatgcctgc aggtttgttc gccctccatt aatcatcttc tccgtggatg gcttccgatg 300 acatcataca tgaagaaagg cagcaaagtc atgcctaata ttgaaaaact aaggtcttgt 360 ggcacacact ctccctacat gaggccggtg tacccaacta aaacctttcc taacttatac 420 actttggcca ctgggctata tccagaatca catggaattg ttggcaattc aatgtatgat 480 cctgtatttg atgccacttt tcatctgcga gggcgagaga aatttaatca tagatggtgg 540 ggaggtcaac cgctatggat tacagccacc aagcaaaggg gtgaaagctg gaacattctt 600 ttggtctgtt gtcatccctc acgagcggag atattaacca tattgcagtg gctcaccctg 660 ccagatcatg agaggccttc ggtctatgcc ttctattctg agcaacctga tttctctgga 720 cacaaacata tgcctttcgg ccctgagatg acaaatcctc tgagggaaat gcacaaaatt 780 gtggggcaat taatggatgg actgaaacaa ctaaaactgc atcggtgtgt caacgtcatc 840 tttgtcgaga ccatggatgg aagatgtcac atgtatagaa ctgagttctt gagtaattac 900 ctaactaatg tggatgatat tactttagtg cctggaactc taggaagaat tcgatccaaa 960 tttagcaaca atgctaaata tcaccccaaa gccattattg ccaatctcac gtgtaaaaaa 1020 ccagatcagc actttaagcc ttacttgaaa cagcaccttc ccaaacgttt gcactatgcc 1080 aacaacagaa gaattgagga tatccattta ttggtggaac gcagatggca tgttgcaagg 1140 aaacctttgg atgtttataa gaaaccatca ggaaatgctt tttccaggga gaccacggca 1200 tttgataaca aggtcaacag catgcagact gtttttgtag gttatggccc aacatttaag 1260 tacaagacta aagtdcctcc atttgaaaac attgaacttt aaaatgttat gtgtgatctc 1320 ctgggattga agccagctcc taataatggg acccatggaa gtttgaatca tctcctgcgc 1380 actaatacct tcaggccaac catgccagag gaagttacca gaccctatta tccagggatt 1440 atgtaccttc agtctgattt tgacctgggc tgcacttgtg atgataaggt agagccaaag 1500 aacaagttgg atgaactcaa caaacggctt catacaaaag ggtctacaga agagagacac 1560 ctcctctatg gggatcgacc tgcagtgctt tatcggacta gatatgatat cttatatcac 1620 actgactttg aaagtggtta tagtgaaata ttcctaatgc cactctggac atcatatact 1680 gtttccaaac aggctgaggt ttccagcgtt cctgaccatc tgaccagttg cgtccggcct 1740 gatgtccgtg tttctccgag tttcagtcag aactgtttgg cctacaaaaa tgataagcag 1800 atgtcctacg gattcctctt tcctccttat ctgagctctt caccagaggc taaatatgat 1860 gcattccttg taaccaatat ggttccaatg tatcctgctt tcaaacgggt ctggaattat 1920 ttccaaaggg tattggtgaa gaaatatgct tcggaaagaa atggagttaa cgtgataagt 1980 ggaccaatct tcgactatga ctatgatggc ttacatgaca cagaagacaa aataaaacag 2040 tacgtggaag gcagttccat tcctgttcca actcactact acagcatcat caccagctgt 2100 ctggatttca ctcagcctgc cgacaagtgt gacggccctc tctctgtgtc ctccttcatc 2160 ctgcctcacc ggcctgacaa cgaggagagc tgcaatagct cagaggacga atcaaaatgg 2220 gtagaagaac tcatgaagat gcacacagct agggtgcgtg acattgaaca tctcaccagc 2280 ctggacttct tccgaaagac cagccgcagc tacccagaaa tcctgacact caagacatac 2340 ctgcatacat atgagagcga gatttaactt tctgagcatc tgcagtacag tcttatcaac 2400 tggttgtata tttttatatt gtttttgtat ttattaattt gaaaccagga cattaaaaat 2460 gttagtattt taatcctgta ccaaatctga catattatgc ctgaatgact ccactgtttt 2520 tctctaatgc ttgatttagg tagccttgtg ttctgagtag agcttgtaat aaatactgca 2580 gcttgagttt ttagtggaag cttctaaatg gtgctgcaga tttgatattt gcattgagga 2640 aatattaatt ttccaatgca cagttgccac atttagtcct gtactgtatg gaaacactga 2700 ttttgtaaag tt 2712 38 8 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial SequenceSynthetic peptide 38 Arg Val Trp Asn Tyr Phe Gln Arg 1 5 39 8 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 39 Met His Thr Ala Arg Val Arg Asp 1 5 40 8 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 40 Phe Ser Asn Asn Ala Lys Tyr Asp 1 5 41 7 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 41 Val Met Pro Asn Ile Glu Lys 1 5 42 8 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 42 Thr Ala Arg Gly Trp Glu Cys Thr 1 5 43 11 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 43 Xaa Asp Ser Pro Trp Thr Xaa Ile Ser Gly Ser 1 5 10 44 11 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 44 Leu Arg Ser Cys Gly Thr His Ser Pro Tyr Met 1 5 10 45 8 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 45 Thr Tyr Leu His Thr Tyr Glu Ser 1 5 46 13 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 46 Ala Ile Ile Ala Asn Leu Thr Cys Lys Lys Pro Asp Gln 1 5 10 47 8 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 47 Ile Val Gly Gln Leu Met Asp Gly 1 5 48 9 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 48 Thr Ser Arg Ser Tyr Pro Glu Ile Leu 1 5 49 9 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 49 Gln Ala Glu Val Ser Ser Val Pro Asp 1 5 50 14 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 50 Arg Cys Phe Glu Leu Gln Glu Ala Gly Pro Pro Asp Asp Cys 1 5 10 51 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 51 Ser Tyr Thr Ser Cys Cys His Asp Phe Asp Glu Leu 1 5 10 52 16 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Peptide 52 Gln Met Ser Tyr Gly Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Tyr Leu Ser Ser Ser Pro 1 5 10 15 53 117 DNA Homo sapiens 5′ end of human liver ATX gene 53 atggcaagga ggagctcgtt ccagtcgtgt caagatatat ccctgttcac ttttgccgtt 60 ggagtcaata tctgcttagg attcactgca catcgaatta agagagcaga aggatgg 117 54 39 PRT Homo sapiens N-terminal region including transmembrane domain of liver ATX protein 54 Met Ala Arg Arg Ser Ser Phe Gln Ser Cys Gln Asp Ile Ser Leu Phe 1 5 10 15 Thr Phe Ala Val Gly Val Asn Ile Cys Leu Gly Phe Thr Ala His Arg 20 25 30 Ile Lys Arg Ala Glu Gly Trp 35 55 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 55 gctcagataa ggaggaaaga g 21 56 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 56 gaatccgtag gacatctgct t 21 57 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 57 tgtaggccaa acagttctga c 21 58 25 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 58 aaytcnatgc aracngtntt ygtng 25 59 26 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 59 ttygtnggnt ayggnccnac nttyaa 26 60 26 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 60 aaytayctna cnaaygtnga ygayat 26 61 26 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 61 gaygayatna cnctngtncc nggnac 26 62 29 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 62 tgyttygary tncargargc nggnccncc 29 63 18 DNA Artificial Sequence Putative autotoxin protein sequence from human liver 63 gctgtcttca aacacagc 18 64 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 64 ctggtggctg taatccatag c 21 65 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Primer 65 cgtgaaggca aagagaacac g 21 66 3104 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Polynucleotide 66 agtgcactcc gtgaaggcaa agagaacacg ctgcaaaagg ctttccaata atcctcgaca 60 tggcaaggag gagctcgttc cagtcgtgtc agataatatc cctgttcact tttgccgttg 120 gagtcaatat ctgcttagga ttcactgcac atcgaattaa gagagcagaa ggatgggagg 180 aaggtcctcc tacagtgcta tcagactccc cctggaccaa catctccgga tcttgcaagg 240 gcaggtgctt tgaacttcaa gaggctggac ctcctgattg tcgctgtgac aacttgtgta 300 agagctatac cagttgctgc catgactttg atgagctgtg tttgaagaca gcccgtgcgt 360 gggagtgtac taaggacaga tgtggagaag tcagaaatga agaaaatgcc tgtcactgct 420 cagaggactg cttggccagg ggagactgct gtaccaatta ccaagtggtt tgcaaaggag 480 agtcgcattg ggttgatgat gactgtgagg aaataaaggc cgcagaatgc cctgcagggt 540 ttgttcgccc tccattaatc atcttctccg tggatggctt ccgtgcatca tacatgaaga 600 aaggcagcaa agtcatgcct aatattgaaa aactaaggtc ttgtggcaca cactcgcccc 660 acatgaggcc ggtgtaccca actaaaacct ttcctaactt atacactttg gccactgggc 720 tatatccaga atcacatgga attgttggca attcaatgta tgatcctgta tttgatgcca 780 cttttcatct gcgagggcga gagaaattta atcatagatg gtggggaggt caaccgctat 840 ggattacagc caccaagcaa aggggtgaaa gctggaacat tcttttggtc tgttgtcatc 900 cctcacgagc ggagatatta accatattgc agtggctcac cctgccagat catgagaggc 960 ttcggtctat gccttctatt ctgagcaacc tgatttctct ggacacaaat atgcctttcg 1020 gccctgagat gacaaatcct ctgagggaaa tcgacaaaat tgtggggcaa ttaatggatg 1080 gactgaaaca actaaaactg catcggtgtg tcaacgtcat ctttgtcgga gaccatggaa 1140 tggaagatgt cacatgtgat agaactgagt tcttgagtaa ttacctaact aatgtggatg 1200 atattacttt agtgcctgga actctaggaa ttcgatccaa atttagcaac aatgctaaat 1260 atgaccccaa agccattatt gccaatctca cgtgtaaaaa accagatcag cactttaagc 1320 cttacttgaa acagcacctt cccaaacgtt tgcactatgc caacaacaga agaattgagg 1380 atatccattt attggtggaa cgcagatggc atgttgcaag gaaacctttg gatgtttata 1440 agaaaccatc aggaaaatgc tttttccagg gagaccacgg atttgataac aaggtcaaca 1500 gcatgcagac tgtttttgta ggttatggcc caacatttaa gtacaagact aaagtgcctc 1560 catttgaaaa cattgaactt tacaatgtta tgtgtgatct cctgggattg aagccagctc 1620 ctaataatgg gacccatgga agtttgaatc atctcctgcg cactaatacc ttcaggccaa 1680 ccatgccaga ggaagttacc agacccaatt atccagggat tatgtacctt cagtctgatt 1740 ttgacctggg ctgcacttgt gatgataagg tagagccaaa gaacaagttg gatgaactca 1800 acaaacggct tcatacaaaa gggtctacag aagagagaca cctcctctat gggcgacctg 1860 cagtgcttta tcggactaga tatgatgtct tatatcacac tgactttgaa agtggttata 1920 gtgaaatatt cctaatgcca ctctggacat catatactgt ttccaaacag gctgaggttt 1980 ccagcgttcc tgaccatctg accagttgcg tccggcctga tgtccgtgtt tctccgagtt 2040 tcagtcagaa ctgtttggcc tacaaaaatg ataagcagat gtcctacgga ttcctctttc 2100 ctccttatct gagctcttca ccagaggcta aatatgatgc attccttgta accaatatgg 2160 ttccaatgta tcctgctttc aaacgggtct ggaattattt ccaaagggta ttggtgaaga 2220 aatatgcttc ggaaagaaat ggagttaacg tgataagtgg accaatcttc gactatgact 2280 atgatggctt acatgacaca gaagacaaaa taaaacagta cgtggaaggc agttccattc 2340 ctgttccaac tcactactac agcatcatca ccagctgtct ggatttcact cagcctgccg 2400 acaagtgtga cggccctctc tctgtgtcct ccttcatcct ccgtcaccgg cctgacaacg 2460 aggagagctg caatagctca gaggacgaat caaaatgggt agaagaactc atgaagatgc 2520 acacggctag ggtgcgtgac attgaacatc tcaccagcct ggacttcttc cgaaagacca 2580 gccgcagcta cccagaaatc ctgacactca agacatacct gcatacatat gagagcgaga 2640 tttaactttc tgagcatctg cagtacagtc ttatcaactg gttgtatatt tttatattgt 2700 ttttgtattt attaatttga aaccaggaca ttaaaaatgt tagtatttta atcctgtacc 2760 aaatctgaca tattatgcct gaatgactcc actgtttttc tctaatgctt gatttaggta 2820 gccttgtgtt ctgagtagag cttgtaataa atactgcagc ttgagttttt agtggaagct 2880 tctaaatggt gctgcagatt tgatatttgc attgaggaaa tattaatttt ccaatgcaca 2940 gttgccacat ttagtcctgt actgtatgga aacactgatt ttgtaaagtt gcctttattt 3000 gctgttaact gttaactatg acagatatat ttaagcctta taaaccaatc ttaaacataa 3060 taaatcacac attcagtttt ttctggtaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 3104 67 861 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Polypeptide 67 Met Ala Arg Arg Ser Ser Phe Gln Ser Cys Gln Ile Ile Ser Leu Phe 1 5 10 15 68 3251 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Polynucleotide 68 cgtgaaggca aagagaacac gctgcaaaag gcttccaaga atcctcgaca tggcaaggag 60 gagctcgttc cagtcgtgtc agataatatc cctgttcact tttgccgttg gagtcagtat 120 ctgcttagga ttcactgcac atcgaattaa gagagcagaa ggatgggagg aaggtcctcc 180 tacagtgcta tcagactccc cctggaccaa catctccgga tcttgcaagg gcaggtgctt 240 tgaacttcaa gaggctggac ctcctgattg tcgctgtgac aacttgtgta agagctatac 300 cagttgctgc catgactttg atgagctgtg tttgaagaca gcccgtggct gggagtgtac 360 taaggacaga tgtggagaag tcagaaatga agaaaatgcc tgtcactgct cagaggactg 420 cttggccagg ggagactgct gtaccaatta ccaagtggtt tgcaaaggag agtcgcattg 480 ggttgatgat gactgtgagg aaataaaggc cgcagaatgc cctgcagggt ttgttcgccc 540 tccattaatc atcttctccg tggatggctt ccgtgcatca tacatgaaga aaggcagcaa 600 agtcatgcct aatattgaaa aactaaggtc ttgtggcaca cactctccct acatgaggcc 660 ggtgtaccca actaaaacct ttcctaactt atacactttg gccactgggc tatatccaga 720 atcacatgga attgttggca attcaatgta tgatcctgta tttgatgcca cttttcatct 780 gcgagggcga gagaaattta atcatagatg gtggggaggt caaccgctat ggattacagc 840 caccaagcaa ggggtgaaag ctggaacatt cttttggtct gttgtcatcc ctcacgagcg 900 gagaatatta accatattgc ggtggctcac cctgccagat catgagaggc cttcggtcta 960 tgccttctat tctgagcaac ctgatttctc tggacacaaa tatggccctt tcggccctga 1020 ggagagtagt tatggctcac cttttactcc ggctaagaga cctaagagga aagttgcccc 1080 taagaggaga caggaaagac cagttgctcc tccaaagaaa agaagaagaa aaatacatag 1140 gatggatcat tatgctgcgg aaactcgtca ggacaaaatg acaaatcctc tgagggaaat 1200 cgacaaaatt gtggggcaat taatggatgg actgaaacaa ctaaaactgc gtcggtgtgt 1260 caacgtcatc tttgtcggag accatggaat ggaagatgtc acatgtgata gaactgagtt 1320 cttgagtaat tacctaacta atgtggatga tattacttta gtgcctggaa ctctaggaag 1380 aattcgatcc aaatttagca acaatgctaa atatgacccc aaagccatta ttgccaatct 1440 cacgtgtaaa aaaccagatc agcactttaa gccttacttg aaacagcacc ttcccaaacg 1500 tttgcactat gccaacaaca gaagaattga ggatatccat ttattggtgg aacgcagatg 1560 gcatgttgca aggaaacctt tggatgttta taagaaacca tcaggaaaat gctttttcca 1620 gggagaccac ggatttgata acaaggtcaa cagcatgcag actgtttttg taggttatgg 1680 cccaacattt aagtacaaga ctaaagtgcc tccatttgaa aacattgaac tttacaatgt 1740 tatgtgtgat ctcctgggat tgaagccagc tcctaataat gggacccatg gaagtttgaa 1800 tcatctcctg cgcactaata ccttcaggcc aaccatgcca gaggaagtta ccagacccaa 1860 ttatccaggg attatgtacc ttcagtctga ttttgacctg ggctgcactt gtgatgataa 1920 ggtagagcca aagaacaagt tggatgaact caacaaacgg cttcatacaa aagggtctac 1980 agaagagaga cacctcctct atgggcgacc tgcagtgctt tatcggacta gatatgatat 2040 cttatatcac actgactttg aaagtggtta tagtgaaata ttcctaatgc tactctggac 2100 atcatatact gtttccaaac aggctgaggt ttccagcgtt cctgaccatc tgaccagttg 2160 cgtccggcct gatgtccgtg tttctccgag tttcagtcag aactgtttgg cctacaaaaa 2220 tgataagcag atgtcctacg gattcctctt tcctccttat ctgagctctt caccagaggc 2280 taaatatgat gcattccttg taaccaatat ggttccaatg tatcctgctt tcaaacgggt 2340 ctggaattat ttccaaaggg tattggtgaa gaaatatgct tcggaaagaa atggagttaa 2400 cgtgataagt ggaccaatct tcgactatga ctatgatggc ttacatgaca cagaagacaa 2460 aataaaacag tacgtggaag gcagttccat tcctgttcca actcactact acagcatcat 2520 caccagctgt ctggatttca ctcagcctgc cgacaagtgt gacggccctc tctctgtgtc 2580 ctccttcatc ctgcctcacc ggcctgacaa cgaggagagc tgcaatagct cagaggacga 2640 atcaaaatgg gtagaagaac tcatgaagat gcacacagct agggtgcgtg acattgaaca 2700 tctcaccagc ctggacttct tccgaaagac cagccgcagc tacccagaaa tcctgacact 2760 caagacatac ctgcatacat atgagagcga gatttaactt tctgagcatc tgcagtacag 2820 tcttatcaac tggttgtata tttttatatt gtttttgtat ttattaattt gaaaccagga 2880 cattaaaaat gttagtattt taatcctgta ccaaatctga catattatgc ctgaatgact 2940 ccactgtttt tctctaatgc ttgatttagg tagccttgtg ttctgagtag agcttgtaat 3000 aaatactgca gcttgagaaa aagtggaagc ttctaaatgg tgctgcagat ttgatatttg 3060 cattgaggaa atattaattt tccaatgcac agttgccaca tttagtcctg tactgtatgg 3120 aaacactgat tttgtaaagt tgcctttatt tgctgttaac tgttaactat gacagatata 3180 tttaagcctt ataaaccaat cttaaacata ataaatcaca cattcagttt taaaaaaaaa 3240 aaaaaaaaaa a 3251 69 915 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Synthetic Polypeptide 69 Met Ala Arg Arg Ser Ser Phe Gln Ser Cys Gln Ile Ile Ser Leu Phe 1 5 10 15 Thr Phe Ala Val Gly Val Ser Ile Cys Leu Gly Phe Thr Ala His Arg 20 25 30 Ile Lys Arg Ala Glu Gly Trp Glu Glu Gly Pro Pro Thr Val Leu Ser 35 40 45 Asp Ser Pro Trp Thr Asn Ile Ser Gly Ser Cys Lys Gly Arg Cys Phe 50 55 60 Glu Leu Gln Glu Ala Gly Pro Pro Asp Cys Arg Cys Asp Asn Leu Cys 65 70 75 80 Lys Ser Tyr Thr Ser Cys Cys His Asp Phe Asp Glu Leu Cys Leu Lys 85 90 95 Thr Ala Arg Gly Trp Glu Cys Thr Lys Asp Arg Cys Gly Glu Val Arg 100 105 110 Asn Glu Glu Asn Ala Cys His Cys Ser Glu Asp Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly 115 120 125 Asp Cys Cys Thr Asn Tyr Gln Val Val Cys Lys Gly Glu Ser His Trp 130 135 140 Val Asp Asp Asp Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ala Ala Glu Cys Pro Ala Gly 145 150 155 160 Phe Val Arg Pro Pro Leu Ile Ile Phe Ser Val Asp Gly Phe Arg Ala 165 170 175 Ser Tyr Met Lys Lys Gly Ser Lys Val Met Pro Asn Ile Glu Lys Leu 180 185 190 Arg Ser Cys Gly Thr His Ser Pro Tyr Met Arg Pro Val Tyr Pro Thr 195 200 205 Lys Thr Phe Pro Asn Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ala Thr Gly Leu Tyr Pro Glu 210 215 220 Ser His Gly Ile Val Gly Asn Ser Met Tyr Asp Pro Val Phe Asp Ala 225 230 235 240 Thr Phe His Leu Arg Gly Arg Glu Lys Phe Asn His Arg Trp Trp Gly 245 250 255 Gly Gln Pro Leu Trp Ile Thr Ala Thr Lys Gln Gly Val Lys Ala Gly 260 265 270 Thr Phe Phe Trp Ser Val Val Ile Pro His Glu Arg Arg Ile Leu Thr 275 280 285 Ile Leu Arg Trp Leu Thr Leu Pro Asp His Glu Arg Pro Ser Val Tyr 290 295 300 Ala Phe Tyr Ser Glu Gln Pro Asp Phe Ser Gly His Lys Tyr Gly Pro 305 310 315 320 Phe Gly Pro Glu Glu Ser Ser Tyr Gly Ser Pro Phe Thr Pro Ala Lys 325 330 335 Arg Pro Lys Arg Lys Val Ala Pro Lys Arg Arg Gln Glu Arg Pro Val 340 345 350 Ala Pro Pro Lys Lys Arg Arg Arg Lys Ile His Arg Met Asp His Tyr 355 360 365 Ala Ala Glu Thr Arg Gln Asp Lys Met Thr Asn Pro Leu Arg Glu Ile 370 375 380 Asp Lys Ile Val Gly Gln Leu Met Asp Gly Leu Lys Gln Leu Lys Leu 385 390 395 400 Arg Arg Cys Val Asn Val Ile Phe Val Gly Asp His Gly Met Glu Asp 405 410 415 Val Thr Cys Asp Arg Thr Glu Phe Leu Ser Asn Tyr Leu Thr Asn Val 420 425 430 Asp Asp Ile Thr Leu Val Pro Gly Thr Leu Gly Arg Ile Arg Ser Lys 435 440 445 Phe Ser Asn Asn Ala Lys Tyr Asp Pro Lys Ala Ile Ile Ala Asn Leu 450 455 460 Thr Cys Lys Lys Pro Asp Gln His Phe Lys Pro Tyr Leu Lys Gln His 465 470 475 480 Leu Pro Lys Arg Leu His Tyr Ala Asn Asn Arg Arg Ile Glu Asp Ile 485 490 495 His Leu Leu Val Glu Arg Arg Trp His Val Ala Arg Lys Pro Leu Asp 500 505 510 Val Tyr Lys Lys Pro Ser Gly Lys Cys Phe Phe Gln Gly Asp His Gly 515 520 525 Phe Asp Asn Lys Val Asn Ser Met Gln Thr Val Phe Val Gly Tyr Gly 530 535 540 Pro Thr Phe Lys Tyr Lys Thr Lys Val Pro Pro Phe Glu Asn Ile Glu 545 550 555 560 Leu Tyr Asn Val Met Cys Asp Leu Leu Gly Leu Lys Pro Ala Pro Asn 565 570 575 Asn Gly Thr His Gly Ser Leu Asn His Leu Leu Arg Thr Asn Thr Phe 580 585 590 Arg Pro Thr Met Pro Glu Glu Val Thr Arg Pro Asn Tyr Pro Gly Ile 595 600 605 Met Tyr Leu Gln Ser Asp Phe Asp Leu Gly Cys Thr Cys Asp Asp Lys 610 615 620 Val Glu Pro Lys Asn Lys Leu Asp Glu Leu Asn Lys Arg Leu His Thr 625 630 635 640 Lys Gly Ser Thr Glu Glu Arg His Leu Leu Tyr Gly Arg Pro Ala Val 645 650 655 Leu Tyr Arg Thr Arg Tyr Asp Ile Leu Tyr His Thr Asp Phe Glu Ser 660 665 670 Gly Tyr Ser Glu Ile Phe Leu Met Leu Leu Trp Thr Ser Tyr Thr Val 675 680 685 Ser Lys Gln Ala Glu Val Ser Ser Val Pro Asp His Leu Thr Ser Cys 690 695 700 Val Arg Pro Asp Val Arg Val Ser Pro Ser Phe Ser Gln Asn Cys Leu 705 710 715 720 Ala Tyr Lys Asn Asp Lys Gln Met Ser Tyr Gly Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro 725 730 735 Tyr Leu Ser Ser Ser Pro Glu Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ala Phe Leu Val Thr 740 745 750 Asn Met Val Pro Met Tyr Pro Ala Phe Lys Arg Val Trp Asn Tyr Phe 755 760 765 Gln Arg Val Leu Val Lys Lys Tyr Ala Ser Glu Arg Asn Gly Val Asn 770 775 780 Val Ile Ser Gly Pro Ile Phe Asp Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Gly Leu His Asp 785 790 795 800 Thr Glu Asp Lys Ile Lys Gln Tyr Val Glu Gly Ser Ser Ile Pro Val 805 810 815 Pro Thr His Tyr Tyr Ser Ile Ile Thr Ser Cys Leu Asp Phe Thr Gln 820 825 830 Pro Ala Asp Lys Cys Asp Gly Pro Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Phe Ile Leu 835 840 845 Pro His Arg Pro Asp Asn Glu Glu Ser Cys Asn Ser Ser Glu Asp Glu 850 855 860 Ser Lys Trp Val Glu Glu Leu Met Lys Met His Thr Ala Arg Val Arg 865 870 875 880 Asp Ile Glu His Leu Thr Ser Leu Asp Phe Phe Arg Lys Thr Ser Arg 885 890 895 Ser Tyr Pro Glu Ile Leu Thr Leu Lys Thr Tyr Leu His Thr Tyr Glu 900 905 910 Ser Glu Ile 915 70 979 PRT Homo sapiens Putative autotoxin protein sequence from human liver. 70 Met Ala Arg Arg Ser Ser Phe Gln Ser Cys Gln Asp Ile Ser Leu Phe 1 5 10 15 Thr Phe Ala Val Gly Val Asn Ile Cys Leu Gly Phe Thr Ala His Arg 20 25 30 Ile Lys Arg Ala Glu Gly Trp Glu Glu Gly Pro Pro Thr Val Leu Ser 35 40 45 Asp Ser Pro Trp Thr Asn Ile Ser Gly Ser Cys Lys Gly Arg Cys Phe 50 55 60 Glu Leu Gln Glu Ala Gly Pro Pro Asp Cys Arg Cys Asp Asn Leu Cys 65 70 75 80 Lys Ser Tyr Thr Ser Cys Cys His Asp Phe Asp Glu Leu Cys Leu Lys 85 90 95 Thr Ala Arg Ala Trp Glu Cys Thr Lys Asp Arg Cys Gly Glu Val Arg 100 105 110 Asn Glu Glu Asn Ala Cys His Cys Ser Glu Asp Cys Leu Ala Arg Gly 115 120 125 Asp Cys Cys Thr Asn Tyr Gln Val Val Cys Lys Gly Glu Ser His Trp 130 135 140 Val Asp Asp Asp Cys Glu Glu Ile Lys Ala Ala Glu Cys Leu Gln Val 145 150 155 160 Cys Ser Pro Ser Ile Asn His Leu Leu Arg Gly Trp Leu Pro Met Thr 165 170 175 Ser Tyr Met Lys Lys Gly Ser Lys Val Met Pro Asn Ile Glu Lys Leu 180 185 190 Arg Ser Cys Gly Thr His Ser Pro Tyr Met Arg Pro Val Tyr Pro Thr 195 200 205 Lys Thr Phe Pro Asn Leu Tyr Thr Leu Ala Thr Gly Leu Tyr Pro Glu 210 215 220 Ser His Gly Ile Val Gly Asn Ser Met Tyr Asp Pro Val Phe Asp Ala 225 230 235 240 Thr Phe His Leu Arg Gly Arg Glu Lys Phe Asn His Arg Trp Trp Gly 245 250 255 Gly Gln Pro Leu Trp Ile Thr Ala Thr Lys Gln Arg Gly Glu Ser Trp 260 265 270 Asn Ile Leu Leu Val Cys Cys His Pro Ser Arg Ala Glu Ile Leu Thr 275 280 285 Ile Leu Gln Trp Leu Thr Leu Pro Asp His Glu Arg Pro Ser Val Tyr 290 295 300 Ala Phe Tyr Ser Glu Gln Pro Asp Phe Ser Gly His Lys His Met Pro 305 310 315 320 Phe Gly Pro Glu Met Thr Asn Pro Leu Arg Glu Met His Lys Ile Val 325 330 335 Gly Gln Leu Met Asp Gly Leu Lys Gln Leu Lys Leu His Arg Cys Val 340 345 350 Asn Val Ile Phe Val Glu Thr Met Asp Gly Arg Cys His Met Tyr Arg 355 360 365 Thr Glu Phe Leu Ser Asn Tyr Leu Thr Asn Val Asp Asp Ile Thr Leu 370 375 380 Val Pro Gly Thr Leu Gly Arg Ile Arg Ser Lys Phe Ser Asn Asn Ala 385 390 395 400 Lys Tyr Asp Pro Lys Ala Ile Ile Ala Asn Leu Thr Cys Lys Lys Pro 405 410 415 Asp Gln His Phe Lys Pro Tyr Leu Lys Gln His Leu Pro Lys Arg Leu 420 425 430 His Tyr Ala Asn Asn Arg Arg Ile Glu Asp Ile His Leu Leu Val Glu 435 440 445 Arg Arg Trp His Val Ala Arg Lys Pro Leu Asp Val Tyr Lys Lys Pro 450 455 460 Ser Gly Asn Ala Phe Ser Arg Glu Thr Thr Ala Phe Asp Asn Lys Val 465 470 475 480 Asn Ser Met Gln Thr Val Phe Val Gly Tyr Gly Pro Thr Phe Lys Tyr 485 490 495 Lys Thr Lys Val Pro Pro Phe Glu Asn Ile Glu Leu Tyr Asn Val Met 500 505 510 Cys Asp Leu Leu Gly Leu Lys Pro Ala Pro Asn Asn Gly Thr His Gly 515 520 525 Ser Leu Asn His Leu Leu Arg Thr Asn Thr Phe Arg Pro Thr Met Pro 530 535 540 Glu Glu Val Thr Arg Pro Asn Tyr Pro Gly Ile Met Tyr Leu Gln Ser 545 550 555 560 Asp Phe Asp Leu Gly Cys Thr Cys Asp Asp Lys Val Glu Pro Lys Asn 565 570 575 Lys Leu Asp Glu Leu Asn Lys Arg Leu His Thr Lys Gly Ser Thr Glu 580 585 590 Glu Arg His Leu Leu Tyr Gly Asp Arg Pro Ala Val Leu Tyr Arg Thr 595 600 605 Arg Tyr Asp Ile Leu Tyr His Thr Asp Phe Glu Ser Gly Tyr Ser Glu 610 615 620 Ile Phe Leu Met Pro Leu Trp Thr Ser Tyr Thr Val Ser Lys Gln Ala 625 630 635 640 Glu Val Ser Ser Val Pro Asp His Leu Thr Ser Cys Val Arg Pro Asp 645 650 655 Val Arg Val Ser Pro Ser Phe Ser Gln Asn Cys Leu Ala Tyr Lys Asn 660 665 670 Asp Lys Gln Met Ser Tyr Gly Phe Leu Phe Pro Pro Tyr Leu Ser Ser 675 680 685 Ser Pro Glu Ala Lys Tyr Asp Ala Phe Leu Val Thr Asn Met Val Pro 690 695 700 Met Tyr Pro Ala Phe Lys Arg Val Trp Asn Tyr Phe Gln Arg Val Leu 705 710 715 720 Val Lys Lys Tyr Ala Ser Glu Arg Asn Gly Val Asn Val Ile Ser Gly 725 730 735 Pro Ile Phe Asp Tyr Asp Tyr Asp Gly Leu His Asp Thr Glu Asp Lys 740 745 750 Ile Lys Gln Tyr Val Glu Gly Ser Ser Ile Pro Val Pro Thr His Tyr 755 760 765 Tyr Ser Ile Ile Thr Ser Cys Leu Asp Phe Thr Gln Pro Ala Asp Lys 770 775 780 Cys Asp Gly Pro Leu Ser Val Ser Ser Phe Ile Leu Pro His Arg Pro 785 790 795 800 Asp Asn Glu Glu Ser Cys Asn Ser Ser Glu Asp Glu Ser Lys Trp Val 805 810 815 Glu Glu Leu Met Lys Met His Thr Ala Arg Val Arg Asp Ile Glu His 820 825 830 Leu Thr Ser Leu Asp Phe Phe Arg Lys Thr Ser Arg Ser Tyr Pro Glu 835 840 845 Ile Leu Thr Leu Lys Thr Tyr Leu His Thr Tyr Glu Ser Glu Ile Xaa 850 855 860 Leu Ser Glu His Leu Gln Tyr Ser Leu Ile Asn Trp Leu Tyr Ile Phe 865 870 875 880 Ile Leu Phe Leu Tyr Leu Leu Ile Xaa Asn Gln Asp Ile Lys Asn Val 885 890 895 Ser Ile Leu Ile Leu Tyr Gln Ile Xaa His Ile Met Pro Glu Xaa Leu 900 905 910 His Cys Phe Ser Leu Met Leu Asp Leu Gly Ser Leu Val Phe Xaa Val 915 920 925 Glu Leu Val Ile Asn Thr Ala Ala Xaa Val Phe Ser Gly Ser Phe Xaa 930 935 940 Met Val Leu Gln Ile Xaa Tyr Leu His Xaa Gly Asn Ile Asn Phe Pro 945 950 955 960 Met His Ser Cys His Ile Xaa Ser Cys Thr Val Trp Lys His Xaa Phe 965 970 975 Cys Lys Val 

1. A DNA segment coding for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to autotaxin, or a fragment thereof having at least 5 amino acids.
 2. The DNA segment according to claim 1, wherein said DNA segment encodes the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 26 through SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 38 through SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 66 and SEQ ID NO:
 69. 3. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to autotaxin, or a fragment thereof having at least 5 amino acids.
 4. The polypeptide according to claim 3, wherein said amino acid sequence comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 26 through SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36, and SEQ ID NO: 38 through SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 67 and SEQ ID NO:
 69. 5. An isolated polypeptide bound to a solid support, comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to autotaxin, or a fragment thereof having at least 5 amino acids.
 6. The polypeptide according to claim 5, wherein said polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of the SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 26 through SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 38 through SEQ ID NO: 52., SEQ ID NO: 67 and SEQ ID NO:
 69. 7. A recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector and the DNA segment according to claim
 1. 8. A cell that contains the recombinant DNA molecule according to claim
 7. 9. An antibody having binding affinity for autotaxin, or binding fragment thereof.
 10. A method of producing a recombinant autotaxin polypeptide said method comprising: culturing a cell containing the recombinant DNA molecule of claim 7 under conditions such that the DNA segment is expressed, producing said polypeptide; and isolating said polypeptide.
 11. A method of purifying the autotaxin peptide of claim 3, comprising the steps of: i) collecting and concentrating supernatant from cultured A2058 human melanoma cells whereby a first preparation of said peptide is produced; ii) salt fractionating said first preparation to produce a second peptide preparation; iii) isolating said peptide from said second preparation so that said peptide is obtained in substantially pure form.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said isolating step is effected by column chromatography.
 13. An isolated DNA encoding an autotaxin protein or fragment thereof wherein said DNA includes a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 37 and SEQ ID NO:
 38. 14. The DNA segment according to claim 1, wherein said DNA fragment comprises any one of the SEQ ID NO: 12 through SEQ ID NO: 25, or SEQ ID NO: 39 through SEQ ID NO:
 52. 15. The DNA segment according to claim 13 wherein said DNA segment comprises any one of the SEQ ID NO: 12 through SEQ ID NO:
 25. 16. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to autotaxin.
 17. A polypeptide bound to a solid support and comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to autotaxin.
 18. A recombinant autotaxin polypeptide according to claim
 3. 19. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 3 having cell motility activity. 